Defense Procurement Act Stalemate: AIT Says Comprehensive Special Budget Helps Build Deterrence

(Central News Agency reporter Yang Yao-ju, Taipei, 30th) The NT$1.25 trillion defense special act for 8 years is still awaiting cross-party negotiations in the Legislative Yuan. The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) stated today that the US believes a "comprehensive" defense special budget will help Taiwan build deterrence more effectively in the coming years, and hopes Taiwan will act as soon as possible.

Legislative Yuan President Han Kuo-yu, who is seen as supporting the defense special act draft to allocate NT$800 billion, was criticized yesterday by KMT Vice Chairman Chi Lin-lien at a KMT Central Standing Committee meeting, accusing Han Kuo-yu of betraying the party for personal gain. This ignited an internal party dispute over the defense special act, with opinions divided between the NT$380 billion and NT$800 billion versions.

An AIT spokesperson responded to a Central News Agency inquiry, stating that, as AIT Director Raymond Greene recently said in an interview, the US believes the passage of a "comprehensive" defense special budget will help Taiwan build deterrence more effectively in the coming years, including integrated air defense and missile defense systems, unmanned vehicles, and other capabilities such as drones. Therefore, the US hopes Taiwan will act as soon as possible.

The AIT spokesperson added that, in addition, the US Congress, major think tanks, and others have clearly and consistently expressed support for Taiwan to rapidly enhance its defense capabilities over the past few months, including a letter from US senators on April 14.

The AIT spokesperson emphasized that these systems are not only crucial but also in extremely high demand worldwide, which has been proven in the battlefields of Ukraine and the Middle East.

Han Kuo-yu convened cross-party negotiations on the defense special act draft on April 27, entering into key provisions including procurement items and allocated amounts. After about 70 minutes of discussion, no concrete consensus was reached. Han Kuo-yu announced that cross-party negotiations will be reconvened at 3 PM on May 6. (Edited by Lin Hsing-meng) 1150430

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