Wellington Koo: 1.25 Trillion Military Procurement Budget Based on Operational Needs; Hopes for Bipartisan Support
Taiwan's Defense Minister Wellington Koo defended a proposed 1.25 trillion NTD special military budget as necessary for defense and asymmetric warfare, seeking bipartisan support while rejecting a reduced proposal.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 20, 2026 at 11:41
- 🔍 Collected: April 20, 2026 at 12:00 (19 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 20, 2026 at 12:35 (35 min after Collected)
The Legislative Yuan's Foreign and National Defense Committee held a secret meeting today, inviting Wellington Koo to report on the "Implementation Plan for the Special Ordinance on Procurement for Strengthening Defense Resilience and Asymmetric Warfare Capabilities," and to prepare for questioning. Koo accepted a joint media interview before entering the meeting in the morning.
Regarding former Broadcasting Corporation of China chairman Jaw Shaw-kong's view that the ordinance should be capped at 810 billion NTD, Koo pointed out that the Ministry of National Defense has repeatedly emphasized that the proposed 1.25 trillion budget scale is a systematic and holistic plan based on overall operational needs. Therefore, he hopes that after providing a detailed project report to legislators today, the 1.25 trillion budget will receive support.
Koo emphasized that what is currently under review is the ordinance. Once the ordinance passes, the special budget proposal must still be submitted to the Legislative Yuan and reviewed according to its resolutions. Therefore, from the standpoint of the Ministry of National Defense, every budget proposal is based on joint combat capability planning needs, and he hopes it can pass with bipartisan support from the Legislative Yuan.
As for whether the United States will announce further arms sales to Taiwan in the near future, Koo explained that the Ministry of National Defense and the US Department of Defense have been in close coordination and contact. They also have close communication with the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) regarding arms sales items and delivery schedules, and have obtained willingness to supply, with coordination continuing.
Regarding the PLA's claim yesterday that its Eastern Theater Command naval vessels entered the Western Pacific for exercises, Koo stated that the Ministry of National Defense continues to grasp the situation using joint intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, as well as multiple intelligence channels. They have full grasp not only of the areas surrounding the Taiwan Strait but also regions including the East China Sea and South China Sea, though he could not comment on specific details.
Media reported that because the 1.25 trillion military procurement special ordinance has not yet passed, Lieutenant General Huang Wen-chi, Director of the Department of Strategic Planning at the Ministry of National Defense, spoke harshly to subordinates, causing Major General Weng Yu-heng, Director of the Force Planning Division, to feel burnt out and plan to retire.
Koo said this is false information. He has checked with the person involved and "there is no fact of asking to resign."
Regarding whether he was fierce to subordinates, Huang Wen-chi pointed out when interviewed before entering the meeting room, "Do I look like it? No way." He said he does his best to do things well, hopes the special military procurement ordinance has a better result, and tries his best to explain it to legislators. As for the version that first caps it at 810 billion NTD, he stated, "It might still be very hard for us to accept." (Editor: Su Zhizong) 1150420
Regarding former Broadcasting Corporation of China chairman Jaw Shaw-kong's view that the ordinance should be capped at 810 billion NTD, Koo pointed out that the Ministry of National Defense has repeatedly emphasized that the proposed 1.25 trillion budget scale is a systematic and holistic plan based on overall operational needs. Therefore, he hopes that after providing a detailed project report to legislators today, the 1.25 trillion budget will receive support.
Koo emphasized that what is currently under review is the ordinance. Once the ordinance passes, the special budget proposal must still be submitted to the Legislative Yuan and reviewed according to its resolutions. Therefore, from the standpoint of the Ministry of National Defense, every budget proposal is based on joint combat capability planning needs, and he hopes it can pass with bipartisan support from the Legislative Yuan.
As for whether the United States will announce further arms sales to Taiwan in the near future, Koo explained that the Ministry of National Defense and the US Department of Defense have been in close coordination and contact. They also have close communication with the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) regarding arms sales items and delivery schedules, and have obtained willingness to supply, with coordination continuing.
Regarding the PLA's claim yesterday that its Eastern Theater Command naval vessels entered the Western Pacific for exercises, Koo stated that the Ministry of National Defense continues to grasp the situation using joint intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, as well as multiple intelligence channels. They have full grasp not only of the areas surrounding the Taiwan Strait but also regions including the East China Sea and South China Sea, though he could not comment on specific details.
Media reported that because the 1.25 trillion military procurement special ordinance has not yet passed, Lieutenant General Huang Wen-chi, Director of the Department of Strategic Planning at the Ministry of National Defense, spoke harshly to subordinates, causing Major General Weng Yu-heng, Director of the Force Planning Division, to feel burnt out and plan to retire.
Koo said this is false information. He has checked with the person involved and "there is no fact of asking to resign."
Regarding whether he was fierce to subordinates, Huang Wen-chi pointed out when interviewed before entering the meeting room, "Do I look like it? No way." He said he does his best to do things well, hopes the special military procurement ordinance has a better result, and tries his best to explain it to legislators. As for the version that first caps it at 810 billion NTD, he stated, "It might still be very hard for us to accept." (Editor: Su Zhizong) 1150420