Hou Yu-ih: Supports Defense Budget Not Less Than 3% of GDP
New Taipei City Mayor Hou Yu-ih today expressed his full support for defending Taiwan, stating that professional issues should be left to the Ministry of National Defense. He called for swift negotiation and review of the defense budget, emphasizing that it should not be less than 3% of GDP, a stance he has held for two years.
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- 📰 Published: April 30, 2026 at 13:19
- 🔍 Collected: April 30, 2026 at 13:31 (12 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 30, 2026 at 14:27 (56 min after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Huang Hsu-sheng, New Taipei, 30th) New Taipei City Mayor Hou Yu-ih today stated that he fully supports defending Taiwan, and professional issues should be left to the Ministry of National Defense. He hopes that the defense budget will be negotiated and reviewed as soon as possible, and that it should be passed. He said he supports the defense budget not being less than 3% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Hou Yu-ih was interviewed before presiding over the New Taipei City 115th Model Laborer and Excellent Driver Commendation Ceremony at the city hall auditorium today. Kuomintang Vice Chairman Chi Lin-lien yesterday stated that if Legislative Yuan President Han Kuo-yu sells out the party for glory, he would suggest expelling Han Kuo-yu from the party. Reporters asked Hou Yu-ih for his views on this.
Hou Yu-ih said, "President Han has worked hard." He added that perhaps there are different opinions and ideas within the party on certain issues, but they can communicate and coordinate well to ensure the smooth passage of the defense budget, striving for peace with national strength.
He called for swift negotiation and review of the defense budget, emphasizing that it should be passed, especially leaving professional issues to the Ministry of National Defense, allowing frontline soldiers who work hard to assess. He said that anything that can professionally protect Taiwan should be fully supported.
Reporters further asked which version of the defense budget he supported, whether it was NT$380 billion + N, or NT$800 billion. Hou Yu-ih said he had already put forward his own ideas, stating two years ago that the defense budget should not be less than 3% of GDP. He noted that this proportion is quite high and is not far from the version proposed by the Executive Yuan.
Reporters continued to ask if Hou Yu-ih meant he supported the Executive Yuan's version; he emphasized that he had made his position very clear, which is that it should not be less than 3% of GDP. This is not about supporting a particular version, but a goal, hoping for swift review, negotiation, and passage.
He hopes to return to frontline review, allowing Taiwan's strength to be more stable during economic growth, and to have more opportunities for peace talks. This is the goal. Defense can only be achieved by protecting oneself, which is the only way to promote peace. (Editor: Lin Shu-hui) 1150430
(Central News Agency reporter Huang Hsu-sheng, New Taipei, 30th) New Taipei City Mayor Hou Yu-ih today stated that he fully supports defending Taiwan, and professional issues should be left to the Ministry of National Defense. He hopes that the defense budget will be negotiated and reviewed as soon as possible, and that it should be passed. He said he supports the defense budget not being less than 3% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Hou Yu-ih was interviewed before presiding over the New Taipei City 115th Model Laborer and Excellent Driver Commendation Ceremony at the city hall auditorium today. Kuomintang Vice Chairman Chi Lin-lien yesterday stated that if Legislative Yuan President Han Kuo-yu sells out the party for glory, he would suggest expelling Han Kuo-yu from the party. Reporters asked Hou Yu-ih for his views on this.
Hou Yu-ih said, "President Han has worked hard." He added that perhaps there are different opinions and ideas within the party on certain issues, but they can communicate and coordinate well to ensure the smooth passage of the defense budget, striving for peace with national strength.
He called for swift negotiation and review of the defense budget, emphasizing that it should be passed, especially leaving professional issues to the Ministry of National Defense, allowing frontline soldiers who work hard to assess. He said that anything that can professionally protect Taiwan should be fully supported.
Reporters further asked which version of the defense budget he supported, whether it was NT$380 billion + N, or NT$800 billion. Hou Yu-ih said he had already put forward his own ideas, stating two years ago that the defense budget should not be less than 3% of GDP. He noted that this proportion is quite high and is not far from the version proposed by the Executive Yuan.
Reporters continued to ask if Hou Yu-ih meant he supported the Executive Yuan's version; he emphasized that he had made his position very clear, which is that it should not be less than 3% of GDP. This is not about supporting a particular version, but a goal, hoping for swift review, negotiation, and passage.
He hopes to return to frontline review, allowing Taiwan's strength to be more stable during economic growth, and to have more opportunities for peace talks. This is the goal. Defense can only be achieved by protecting oneself, which is the only way to promote peace. (Editor: Lin Shu-hui) 1150430