Lai calls on legislature to pass defense budgetsCONSENSUS? President William Lai, center, gives a speech during a visit to Longshan Temple in Taipei yesterday. The special defense budget has to be approved as well, as the nation would not be safe without national defense despite economic growth, he added. The NT$1.25 trillion (US$39.7 billion) special defense budget was proposed by the Executive Yuan late last year for this year through 2033 to bolster the nation’s defense resilience and asymmetric capabilities. Lai yesterday expressed hope that ruling and opposition parties would put the nation and the public first, and swiftly pass both the defense and general budgets after the legislature opens its new session.

Source: Taipei Times February 17, 2026 17:13 UTC