TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) on Monday pledged to continue pushing for more defense funding.
Cho said the issue goes beyond the budget itself, CNA reported. “What must be remedied are national security and defense needs, and what must be restored are the people’s confidence and the international community’s trust in Taiwan,” he said. “The government will definitely take action on this.”
On Friday, the Legislative Yuan passed the special arms procurement bill, but with a significantly lower budget cap of NT$780 billion (US$24.84 billion), instead of the Cabinet’s proposed NT$1.25 trillion. US arms procurement will first be carried out in a phase with a maximum limit of NT$300 billion, followed by another phase with a ceiling of NT$480 billion.
The approved bill also excludes funds for Taiwan’s domestic drone production and AI systems.
Cho said the Cabinet’s special arms procurement bill and special budget represented a comprehensive overall plan and reflected the full scope of Taiwan’s defense requirements, according to CNA. Splitting the proposal in this way, he said, has seriously harmed Taiwan’s national defense and security.
“We must strengthen cooperation with the international community, and we also hope political parties across the spectrum can recognize the reality of the situation,” he said.
A senior US official said Sunday that Washington was disappointed about Taiwan’s reduced defense budget, per Reuters. “Our position on Taiwan's defense budget ... is that it was disappointing in that there was some stuff left on the cutting room floor that we believe still needs to be funded,” he told Reuters.
The official added that the US hopes the remaining portions of the original proposal will eventually be funded.
