Taiwan Officials Urge Legislature to Review 2026 General Budget

TaiwanPlus News

​Taiwan’s 2026 general budget is still awaiting legislative review, but with both political camps in a stalemate over what the bill should include, it faces a rough road ahead. Officials are now warning lawmakers about the national security and other risks of the stalled funding.

Transcript

00:00With Taiwan's political parties at a stalemate over this year's budget,

00:04the legislature has invited officials from across the government to speak on its impact on national security.

00:11Defense spending accounts for a large part of the budget under debate, around 18 billion U.S. dollars.

00:17The defense ministry says if that money isn't approved,

00:21it would severely undermine Taiwan's deterrence and asymmetric capabilities,

00:25including its ability to procure critical stinger and javelin missiles.

00:30It says it would also affect funding for front-line personnel,

00:33like those who operate Taiwan's fleet of F-16 fighters.

00:56Without budget approval,

00:58Taiwan's Coast Guard could also face funding shortfalls,

01:01including money to upgrade aging surveillance systems

01:04and to support an AI-based platform aimed at strengthening information security

01:09and improving coordination between government agencies.

01:13The Ocean Affairs Council, which oversees the Coast Guard, is calling for public support.

01:17From 2011 to 2011, we have been fighting for seven times of the U.S. military aircraft.

01:25We are a very capable, very effective, very professional隊.

01:31So we want to encourage the people to believe the aircraft, believe the military.

01:34We have the ability to deal with all the military movements in the area.

01:38The 2026 budget stalemates comes as Taiwan's ruling and opposition parties remain divided

01:46over a separate special defense budget worth 40 billion U.S. dollars, the biggest on record.

01:53It also comes just after China carried out large-scale military drills around Taiwan,

01:58a move the ruling party says underscores the urgency of passing the proposed budget.

02:03Officials say it's not just security that the stall budget could affect.

02:08Chain services and disaster relief could also be on the line.

02:11Now the ruling Democratic Progressive Party is pressing lawmakers to pass the budget as soon as possible.

02:17Scott Huang and Ellen Lu in Taipei for Taiwan Plus.

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