Taipei: President Lai Ching-te expressed his willingness on Saturday to brief the Legislature on a proposed NT$1.25 trillion (US$40 billion) special defense budget, contingent on the invitation receiving agreement from rival party caucuses and adherence to constitutional procedures. Speaking to reporters, Lai stated his openness to delivering a “state of the nation” report to lawmakers to garner cross-party support for the plan.
According to Focus Taiwan, the Cabinet approved a bill on Thursday authorizing spending for major weapons procurement and joint development programs with the United States from 2026 to 2033, following Lai’s announcement at the Presidential Office a day earlier. The bill still requires approval from the opposition-controlled Legislature.
Under Taiwan’s Constitution, the Legislature may invite the president to voluntarily deliver a report through a motion supported by at least one-quarter of lawmakers and passed by a simple majority. In 2024, lawmakers from the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) passed amendments making presidential reports and subsequent questioning effectively mandatory, but these provisions were later struck down by the Constitutional Court.
Against this backdrop, Lai’s comments suggest he might still decline a constitutionally compliant invitation from the Legislature if it lacks broad cross-party support. KMT lawmaker Lin Pei-hsiang, a deputy secretary-general of the party caucus, is planning to propose inviting the president to the Legislature for a policy report, although it has yet to be discussed by the KMT caucus. TPP Deputy Caucus Whip Chang Chi-kai stated the party would consider backing the proposal.
Presidential Office spokesperson Karen Kuo stated on Friday that the administration supports initiatives that strengthen national defense, promote cross-party dialogue, and enhance public safety. Kuo added that current suggestions reflect individual lawmakers’ views. If legislative caucuses reach a consensus, the Presidential Office will communicate with the Legislature to explore feasible approaches consistent with the constitutional framework.