Lawmakers registered for a new Legislative Yuan session on Sept. 1 with Taiwan's 2027 central government budget at its center, a day after defense and national security spending plans reached the legislature. The 2026 budget passed on Aug. 14 after a delay of more than 300 days, and next year's plan covers the universal NT$10,000 payment and a growth allowance for children aged 0 to 18, PTS reported.
How are the parties approaching the budget? Chen Pei-yu (陳培瑜), a deputy secretary-general of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus quoted by PTS, urged the Kuomintang (KMT) and Taiwan People's Party opposition caucuses to stop "absurd" cuts and freezes made "without reasonable discussion." Hung Meng-kai (洪孟楷), the KMT caucus's chief deputy secretary-general, said money should be spent where needed and saved where possible. The KMT caucus pledged reasonable oversight and urged the Cabinet not to ignore bills passed on third reading or withhold its countersignature.
What is in the defense and security budgets? The defense ministry's 2027 budget lists mass production of the Strong Bow missile, now declassified, and of the Rui Yuan II drone, both cut when the legislature reviewed a NT$1.25 trillion special arms budget, PTS reported. The navy plans to spend nearly NT$16.8 billion over four years on 32 of the drones and related equipment. Drone makers visiting the caucuses on Sept. 1 urged the Cabinet to countersign the recently passed Unmanned Vehicles Act, which it was leaning toward doing. The National Security Bureau, whose budget also arrived on Aug. 31, earmarked NT$94.2 million in first-phase funding for 36 security vehicles for the 2028 presidential election, plus bulletproof vests for candidates and their spouses, CNA reported.
Where does the DPP stand on drone funding? Chuang Jui-hsiung (莊瑞雄), the DPP caucus secretary-general, said at a press conference carried by CNA that the caucus would support a supplementary drone budget if the Cabinet proposed one, because China's threat to Taiwan could not be deleted with a stroke of the legislature's pen. The defense ministry's initial plan budgeted NT$13.8 billion for drones in 2026, with next year's needs at more than NT$40 billion, Chuang said.
What did Premier Cho say about his frozen salary? The 2026 budget froze Premier Cho Jung-tai's salary from September through December, CNA reported. Speaking at an offshore wind farm ceremony in Taichung on Sept. 1, Cho said he would do what the law requires and would not cater to individual legislators' preferences, hoping only that lawmakers finish the budget review within the statutory period.
