Lai Ching-te: Hopes Legislative Yuan Passes Undiscounted National Defense, Gives Fullest Support to Armed Forces
President Lai Ching-te, also chairman of the Democratic Progressive Party, today expressed his sincere hope that the Legislative Yuan's party caucus negotiation next week will pass an undiscounted national defense bill, bringing undiscounted security and providing the fullest support to the armed forces. The National Defense Special Act bill remains stalled.
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- 📰 Published: April 29, 2026 at 17:52
- 🔍 Collected: April 29, 2026 at 18:01 (9 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 29, 2026 at 23:46 (5h 45m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Yeh Su-ping, Taipei 29th) President Lai Ching-te, also chairman of the Democratic Progressive Party, today said he sincerely hopes that the Legislative Yuan's party caucus negotiation next week will pass an undiscounted national defense bill, bringing undiscounted security and providing the fullest support to the armed forces.
The National Defense Special Act bill remains stalled, and the Legislative Yuan will convene another cross-party negotiation on May 6 to discuss it.
The Democratic Progressive Party held a Central Standing Committee meeting this afternoon. Lai Ching-te stated that safeguarding sovereignty is the primary task of the governing team. Without sovereignty, there is no Taiwan, and there will be no Republic of China. Strengthening national defense should be a cross-party, consistent basic consensus against external threats.
He said that the Executive Yuan's version of the National Defense Special Act has received consistent affirmation both domestically and internationally. The Ministry of National Defense has also repeatedly emphasized that the bill has undergone professional and comprehensive planning, not only having been discussed multiple times with the US but also capable of promoting domestic industrial development.
Lai Ching-te said he sincerely hopes that the Legislative Yuan's party caucus negotiation next week can pass an undiscounted national defense bill, bringing undiscounted security and providing the fullest support to the armed forces.
In addition, according to reports, Tsai Chi-chang, convener of the DPP caucus, mentioned at the Central Standing Committee meeting that the Kuomintang (KMT) Legislative Yuan caucus held a meeting today to discuss the military procurement version. The DPP caucus's position is NT$1.25 trillion, because this is the most basic requirement set after multiple rounds of communication and coordination between the government, the Ministry of National Defense, and the US. If it is lower than this figure, it will harm national defense, which is unacceptable to the DPP.
According to reports, Tsai Chi-chang stated that during the communication process, the Ministry of National Defense had actually moved many items to the annual budget. The special budget is of utmost importance. To meet the demands of the opposition parties, he asked Chen Kuan-ting, convener of the Legislative Yuan's Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee, to arrange another confidential special report on April 20 to provide opposition legislators with first-hand information. However, he regretted that only legislator Chen Yung-kang attended that day. The KMT is still talking about blank authorization, which is clearly feigning ignorance and delaying the review of the military procurement budget.
According to reports, Tsai Chi-chang said that regarding the military procurement special act, the DPP has given both face and substance to the opposition parties and respects their opinions. If the KMT continues to feign ignorance and delay, it will ultimately face social pressure. Military procurement is a matter for Taiwan, not just for the DPP. Strengthening national defense means the armed forces protect all Taiwanese people, not just the DPP. (Editor: Wan Shu-chang) 1150429
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(Central News Agency reporter Yeh Su-ping, Taipei 29th) President Lai Ching-te, also chairman of the Democratic Progressive Party, today said he sincerely hopes that the Legislative Yuan's party caucus negotiation next week will pass an undiscounted national defense bill, bringing undiscounted security and providing the fullest support to the armed forces.
The National Defense Special Act bill remains stalled, and the Legislative Yuan will convene another cross-party negotiation on May 6 to discuss it.
The Democratic Progressive Party held a Central Standing Committee meeting this afternoon. Lai Ching-te stated that safeguarding sovereignty is the primary task of the governing team. Without sovereignty, there is no Taiwan, and there will be no Republic of China. Strengthening national defense should be a cross-party, consistent basic consensus against external threats.
He said that the Executive Yuan's version of the National Defense Special Act has received consistent affirmation both domestically and internationally. The Ministry of National Defense has also repeatedly emphasized that the bill has undergone professional and comprehensive planning, not only having been discussed multiple times with the US but also capable of promoting domestic industrial development.
Lai Ching-te said he sincerely hopes that the Legislative Yuan's party caucus negotiation next week can pass an undiscounted national defense bill, bringing undiscounted security and providing the fullest support to the armed forces.
In addition, according to reports, Tsai Chi-chang, convener of the DPP caucus, mentioned at the Central Standing Committee meeting that the Kuomintang (KMT) Legislative Yuan caucus held a meeting today to discuss the military procurement version. The DPP caucus's position is NT$1.25 trillion, because this is the most basic requirement set after multiple rounds of communication and coordination between the government, the Ministry of National Defense, and the US. If it is lower than this figure, it will harm national defense, which is unacceptable to the DPP.
According to reports, Tsai Chi-chang stated that during the communication process, the Ministry of National Defense had actually moved many items to the annual budget. The special budget is of utmost importance. To meet the demands of the opposition parties, he asked Chen Kuan-ting, convener of the Legislative Yuan's Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee, to arrange another confidential special report on April 20 to provide opposition legislators with first-hand information. However, he regretted that only legislator Chen Yung-kang attended that day. The KMT is still talking about blank authorization, which is clearly feigning ignorance and delaying the review of the military procurement budget.
According to reports, Tsai Chi-chang said that regarding the military procurement special act, the DPP has given both face and substance to the opposition parties and respects their opinions. If the KMT continues to feign ignorance and delay, it will ultimately face social pressure. Military procurement is a matter for Taiwan, not just for the DPP. Strengthening national defense means the armed forces protect all Taiwanese people, not just the DPP. (Editor: Wan Shu-chang) 1150429
Stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency "First-hand News" APP to get the latest news instantly.
The text, images, and audio-visual content of this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.