Key facts
- Taiwan's parliament approved the annual government budget after a record delay.
- The budget includes funding for a key drone program to enhance defense capabilities.
- Lawmakers cut the total budget by T$48 billion from the proposed T$3.034 trillion.
- President Lai Ching-te urged for budget reviews to be based on professionalism and proportionality.
- The opposition highlighted their approval of 98.4% of the budget as a sign of goodwill.
- Next year's budget will include a 16% increase in defense spending.
Taiwan's parliament has approved the annual government budget after a significant delay, with lawmakers agreeing to fund a key drone program aimed at strengthening the island's defenses against China. The budget, initially proposed last August, faced repeated clashes between the ruling Democratic Progressive Party and opposition parties, which hold a majority in parliament. Lawmakers ultimately voted to reduce the total spending from T$3.034 trillion ($94.79 billion) by T$48 billion, but the $63.4 billion allocated for drones passed without cuts.
President Lai Ching-te, whose party lost parliamentary control in the 2024 election, stated that while parliamentary oversight is crucial, budget reviews should prioritize professionalism, reasonableness, and proportionality, rather than political divisions. He urged a return to these principles to ensure the normal functioning of the state.
Fu Kun-chi, caucus whip for the largest opposition party, the Kuomintang, described the approval of 98.4% of the general budget as a sign of "great goodwill" to allow the country to function. However, he also emphasized that the government must respect legislation passed by the opposition, referencing ongoing disputes where the government has refused to enact opposition-passed laws, citing fiscal unsoundness.