TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — About 8,000 people took to the streets on Saturday to protest opposition lawmakers’ cuts to the Cabinet’s proposed NT$1.25 trillion (US$39.6 billion) special defense budget to NT$780 billion.
The march, themed “True Peace, National Defense,” was initiated by a dozen civic groups. Many participants carried homemade signs expressing support for arms purchases and strengthened national defense, per CNA.
Protesters gathered at Sogo Fuxing Plaza and marched along Zhongxiao East Road, arriving at the Bank of China branch in Taipei’s Xinyi District around 5 p.m., where speeches and performances were held.
Organizers divided the march into six groups, each advocating different defense priorities, including drones, unmanned surface vessels, Taiwan Shield, Strong Bow missiles, and AI defense capabilities.
Taiwan Economic Democracy Union convener Lai Chung-chiang (賴中強) said earlier at a press conference that people should firmly reject the “One China” trap and oppose defense budget cuts proposed by KMT Chair Cheng Li-wen (鄭麗文) and KMT caucus whip Fu Kun-chi (傅崐萁).
Lai called on ruling and opposition lawmakers to reinstate deleted budgets intended to strengthen defense resilience and asymmetric warfare capabilities.
Democracy activist Lee Ming-che (李明哲) said that as long as Taiwan continues to uphold its democratic values and freedoms, it will be viewed as a provocation by China’s government. He said Beijing has demonstrated its intolerance toward regions such as Tibet and Hong Kong, per CNA.
Lee urged Taiwan to maintain its democratic political system and protect its way of life through its own military capabilities.
Lai said Saturday’s protest followed the same route used for the annual Tibetan Uprising Memorial Day march along Zhongxiao East Road. This year, the march was held on May 23 for the first time, marking the 75th anniversary of the 1951 “Seventeen-Point Agreement” between China and Tibet, which organizers described as a sham peace agreement.
Lai said organizers believed a Cheng-Xi meeting earlier this year was part of efforts to promote a “One China” framework. He said Tibet should serve as a reminder to Taiwanese people of the importance of maintaining control over Taiwan’s own national defense.
