Military Procurement Case Ignites Internal KMT Route Dispute, DPP: Public Supports NT$1.25 Trillion Version
While the NT$1.25 trillion special defense statute for 8 years is still awaiting cross-party negotiation in the Legislative Yuan, internal strife has erupted within the Kuomintang (KMT). The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus today stated that polls show the public supports the NT$1.25 trillion version for strengthening national defense, emphasizing that strengthening national security is in the national interest and urging against sending unfavorable messages to the international community that might suggest Taiwan lacks the resolve to defend itself.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 30, 2026 at 13:24
- 🔍 Collected: April 30, 2026 at 13:31 (7 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 30, 2026 at 14:27 (56 min after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Lin Ching-yin, Taipei, 30th) While the 8-year NT$1.25 trillion special defense statute is still awaiting cross-party negotiation in the Legislative Yuan, internal strife has erupted within the Kuomintang (KMT). The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus today stated that various polls show the public supports the NT$1.25 trillion version for strengthening national defense, emphasizing that strengthening national security is in the national interest and urging against sending unfavorable messages to the international community that might suggest Taiwan lacks the resolve to defend itself.
Legislative Yuan President Han Kuo-yu, who is seen by outsiders as supporting the NT$800 billion allocation for the special defense statute, was criticized yesterday by KMT Vice Chairman Chi Lin-lien at a KMT Central Standing Committee meeting. Chi accused Han of selling out the party for glory, igniting an internal party dispute over the special defense statute's direction, with opinions deadlocked between the NT$380 billion and NT$800 billion factions.
Regarding the KMT's internal dispute, DPP caucus secretary-general Fan Yun stated today at a press conference responding to public opinion that outsiders are concerned whether the KMT's internal struggle is being manipulated by the Chinese Communist Party. She urged KMT legislators who support strengthening national security to be brave, and if there is foreign interference, she hoped the KMT would bravely expose it.
Fan Yun pointed out that various messages, including polls, show that the public strongly supports the NT$1.25 trillion budget for strengthening national defense. She noted that KMT Chairman Cheng Li-wen had just said she did not oppose NT$800 billion, but then it was rumored to revert to NT$380 billion, seemingly changing with her mood, or with the mood of someone who had shaken hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping. She warned that this would cause great harm to the country.
Fan Yun stated that if the Legislative Yuan ultimately passes the NT$380 billion version, not only will the drone industry be unable to develop, but the upgrade of Taiwan's air defense system (Taiwan Shield) will also be impossible, and there will be no Taiwan-US cooperation projects. Most seriously, such a result would send a very unfavorable message to the international community, making them believe that Taiwanese people do not have the resolve to defend their own country, which is extremely detrimental.
DPP caucus deputy secretary-general Shen Po-yang said that the KMT caucus's final conclusion from yesterday's meeting is still unclear, but Cheng Li-wen and KMT caucus convener Fu Kun-chi are very assertive, and both still hope to revert to NT$380 billion. Besides the amount being only one-third, it also removes the most important aspects, whether it's the non-red supply chain, air defense system integration, or the indigenous drone industry, an industry involving over 90,000 jobs.
Shen Po-yang stated that the DPP caucus's position is very clear: NT$1.25 trillion is a package, and one part affects the whole. The KMT can certainly have various different opinions, but he hopes that during the May negotiations, they can be open-minded and carefully examine the importance of military procurement to Taiwan. (Editor: Lin Shu-yuan) 1150430
(Central News Agency reporter Lin Ching-yin, Taipei, 30th) While the 8-year NT$1.25 trillion special defense statute is still awaiting cross-party negotiation in the Legislative Yuan, internal strife has erupted within the Kuomintang (KMT). The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus today stated that various polls show the public supports the NT$1.25 trillion version for strengthening national defense, emphasizing that strengthening national security is in the national interest and urging against sending unfavorable messages to the international community that might suggest Taiwan lacks the resolve to defend itself.
Legislative Yuan President Han Kuo-yu, who is seen by outsiders as supporting the NT$800 billion allocation for the special defense statute, was criticized yesterday by KMT Vice Chairman Chi Lin-lien at a KMT Central Standing Committee meeting. Chi accused Han of selling out the party for glory, igniting an internal party dispute over the special defense statute's direction, with opinions deadlocked between the NT$380 billion and NT$800 billion factions.
Regarding the KMT's internal dispute, DPP caucus secretary-general Fan Yun stated today at a press conference responding to public opinion that outsiders are concerned whether the KMT's internal struggle is being manipulated by the Chinese Communist Party. She urged KMT legislators who support strengthening national security to be brave, and if there is foreign interference, she hoped the KMT would bravely expose it.
Fan Yun pointed out that various messages, including polls, show that the public strongly supports the NT$1.25 trillion budget for strengthening national defense. She noted that KMT Chairman Cheng Li-wen had just said she did not oppose NT$800 billion, but then it was rumored to revert to NT$380 billion, seemingly changing with her mood, or with the mood of someone who had shaken hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping. She warned that this would cause great harm to the country.
Fan Yun stated that if the Legislative Yuan ultimately passes the NT$380 billion version, not only will the drone industry be unable to develop, but the upgrade of Taiwan's air defense system (Taiwan Shield) will also be impossible, and there will be no Taiwan-US cooperation projects. Most seriously, such a result would send a very unfavorable message to the international community, making them believe that Taiwanese people do not have the resolve to defend their own country, which is extremely detrimental.
DPP caucus deputy secretary-general Shen Po-yang said that the KMT caucus's final conclusion from yesterday's meeting is still unclear, but Cheng Li-wen and KMT caucus convener Fu Kun-chi are very assertive, and both still hope to revert to NT$380 billion. Besides the amount being only one-third, it also removes the most important aspects, whether it's the non-red supply chain, air defense system integration, or the indigenous drone industry, an industry involving over 90,000 jobs.
Shen Po-yang stated that the DPP caucus's position is very clear: NT$1.25 trillion is a package, and one part affects the whole. The KMT can certainly have various different opinions, but he hopes that during the May negotiations, they can be open-minded and carefully examine the importance of military procurement to Taiwan. (Editor: Lin Shu-yuan) 1150430