TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) reiterated support for bolstering Taiwan’s defense on Saturday.

Chiang said Taiwan should make “necessary and appropriate” military purchases, CNA reported. The mayor said he had recently spoken with KMT legislators from Taipei and was confident the party caucus would reach a consensus after full deliberation.

President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) has proposed an NT$1.25 trillion (US$40 billion) special defense budget. Defense Minister Wellington Koo (顧立雄) said the Cabinet’s draft budget bill outlines seven specific categories of items and associated costs.

The amount is based on these requirements, Koo said, according to CNA.

When asked by reporters whether the talks with legislators focused on the KMT’s NT$800 billion special defense budget, Chiang described the discussions as “open-ended,” per CNA. He said that while he had gathered opinions on defense and military procurement from Taipei’s KMT lawmakers, the priority was for the party caucus to exchange ideas, seek common ground, and finalize a decision.

The next negotiation session on the special defense budget bill is scheduled for Thursday.

Legislators remained divided on defense spending after Monday’s talks but agreed that special budgets must be audited in accordance with the law, and any reallocation by authorities will require legislative approval. They also agreed the act and its special budget will run from promulgation through Dec. 31, 2033.