Opposition lawmakers have blocked a US$40 billion special defense budget proposed by President Lai Ching-te from proceeding to the legislative floor. They say the budget needs further committee review and are calling on the president to report to the legislature with more details.
00:05That's what President Lai Qingde wants for Taiwan.
00:09He's proposed a record 40 billion US dollar special defense budget,
00:13saying it's necessary to keep Beijing at bay.
00:16China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out taking it by force.
00:22Lai announced the plan last week and the cabinet passed it shortly after.
00:27But the bill still needs approval by the opposition-held legislature,
00:31which has blocked it from making it to the floor.
00:33Kuomintang Caucus Whip Fu Kunxi says,
00:36the ruling Democratic Progressive Party is trying to rush the bill through review.
00:40Now, the opposition is putting conditions on moving the bill forward. They want President Lai to
01:00report to the legislature on the state of the nation. They say he should clarify the threats
01:04China poses to Taiwan and what weapons would be bought with the special budget. And they
01:10want him to answer lawmakers questions. The presidential office says Lai can report on the budget,
01:16but it says a Q&A session is unconstitutional.
01:19DISAGREEMENTS over such a report could go on for a while, something one analyst says could play to the KMT's advantage as the party figures out its stance on defense spending.
01:33DISAGREEMENTS over such a report could go on for a while, something one analyst says could play to the
01:41KMT's advantage as the party figures out its stance on defense spending.
01:47Now you've got Zheng Mi-wen, you've got the new KMT chair, who is very much against increasing defense spending.
01:54Meanwhile, you've got the presumptive front runner to be the standard bearer in the next presidential election for the KMT,
02:01Taichung Mayor Lu Xiu-yen, who has said that she strongly supports the military.
02:06The opposition may not all be on the same page yet, but it's succeeded so far in keeping the bill from leaving committee.
02:13And with the ball now in the legislature's court, compromises may be made.
02:18And Lai's special budget could look very different once and if it's approved.
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