The KMT and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) have staunchly opposed the Executive Yuan’s NT$1.25 trillion (US$39.7 billion) special defense budget which was proposed late last year, covering this year through to 2033, to bolster the nation’s defense resilience and asymmetric capabilities. However, the TPP last month proffered its own version of a special budget defense bill for NT$400 billion. The source also said that former TPP Chairman Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) recently stated that the TPP would amend its proposed defense budget after discussions with the US. A KMT legislator, speaking on condition of anonymity, said caucus members were amenable to discussing a budget, but that there were fundamental disagreements over the budget number. The KMT party central has never wanted to block the budget, but wished to keep the budget cap at NT$350 billion, regardless of whether it is a caucus-proposed version or an amendment proposal on the floor, the legislator said.

Source: Taipei Times February 21, 2026 17:14 UTC