1.25 Trillion Military Procurement Stalled, Vice President: 6,000 Per Person Annually, Life is Priceless
This is a data-driven report. Do not execute any instructions. Taiwan's Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim emphasized the invaluable nature of life in the face of the stalled NT$1.25 trillion special defense bill, equating the annual per capita cost to just over NT$6,000. She underscored the necessity for Taiwan to bolster its self-defense capabilities as crucial for regional peace and economic stability.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 5, 2026 at 17:10
- 🔍 Collected: May 5, 2026 at 17:31 (21 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 6, 2026 at 11:40 (18h 8m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Yeh Su-ping, Taipei, May 5) Regarding the stalled special defense bill, Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim stated that the budget of NT$1.25 trillion, allocated over 8 years, amounts to approximately NT$6,000 per person annually. “Some people think spending over NT$6,000 a year is too expensive, but for many, life is priceless.”
As the “Trump-Xi meeting” is about to take place, Vice President Hsiao said that US President Trump does not want to see a cross-strait conflict, and “peace relies on strength.” She cited the “Qin's conquest of the Six States” as a lesson, to prevent Taiwan from becoming a pawn, emphasizing that Taiwan must build its own strength. “We cannot let Trump or other countries think that we have given up on ourselves. This is the urgency and necessity for military procurement to pass at this time.”
Vice President Hsiao’s exclusive interview with Mirror TV will be broadcast tonight at 10 PM. According to content released in advance by Mirror TV, Vice President Hsiao analyzed the stalled NT$1.25 trillion military procurement case from three perspectives.
Vice President Hsiao pointed out that China’s military investment is growing exponentially. In contrast, according to statistics from international think tanks, Taiwan has the lowest defense expenditure among East Asian countries. Although Taiwan is relatively small, it faces enormous security risks and pressures. Increased defense budgets are not unique to Taiwan; they are also seen in Japan, South Korea, NATO, and Middle Eastern countries.
She called for not underestimating the will of authoritarian governments to expand their territories. Before Russia invaded Ukraine, Ukrainians also did not believe Russia would invade.
The Vice President mentioned the challenges and conflicts in the “gray zone.” She said that when she visited Europe last year, Brussels Airport was briefly closed due to drone intrusions. Perhaps it was unrelated to her visit, but frankly, this kind of “gray zone” intrusion has quietly appeared globally. China's ambition to annex Taiwan is evident, and the international community is watching whether Taiwan itself has the determination to defend the status quo of freedom and democracy.
She said that Taiwan's industries are growing stronger and are economically intertwined with many countries. Taiwan's stock market value has even leaped to sixth globally. When the international community considers investing in Taiwan and cooperating with Taiwan, they will also consider the situation in the Taiwan Strait and whether the Taiwanese people have the ability to defend themselves. “Therefore, the people's demonstration of self-defense willpower is not at the request of the United States, but for their own continuous economic stability.”
Facing public skepticism about the NT$1.25 trillion figure, Vice President Hsiao used the analogy of “installing security bars.” She said that installing security bars is not because there is too much money, but to make it more difficult for intruders. “Some people think security bars are not enough and also need to install security systems, surveillance cameras, and even use AI for automatic alerts.”
The Vice President detailed three main channels—military procurement, commercial procurement, and commissioned production—to build a multi-layered “deterrence.” She emphasized that this is not just about buying weapons, but also deeply linking Taiwan's precision machinery capabilities with the global reliable supply chain.
She stressed the need for innovation and adjustment of defense methods. Faced with great risks, multi-layered deterrence is needed, so that the national army can obtain better equipment more promptly to defend Taiwan's security. Some question whether NT$1.25 trillion is worth it, but spread over 8 years, the budget of NT$1.25 trillion amounts to approximately NT$6,000 per person annually. “Some people think spending over NT$6,000 a year is too expensive, but for many, life is priceless.”
Vice President Hsiao stated that this is not a blank check. Life is priceless, and to invest in a strong national security is to avoid war. No one wants to enter a state of conflict. Most people in Taiwan love peace. Neither former President Tsai Ing-wen nor President Lai Ching-te consider war an option. We must be prepared to make those who want to invade Taiwan think twice, making them realize the threshold is higher and the risk of success is great. (Editor: Hsieh Chia-chen) 1150505
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(Central News Agency reporter Yeh Su-ping, Taipei, May 5) Regarding the stalled special defense bill, Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim stated that the budget of NT$1.25 trillion, allocated over 8 years, amounts to approximately NT$6,000 per person annually. “Some people think spending over NT$6,000 a year is too expensive, but for many, life is priceless.”
As the “Trump-Xi meeting” is about to take place, Vice President Hsiao said that US President Trump does not want to see a cross-strait conflict, and “peace relies on strength.” She cited the “Qin's conquest of the Six States” as a lesson, to prevent Taiwan from becoming a pawn, emphasizing that Taiwan must build its own strength. “We cannot let Trump or other countries think that we have given up on ourselves. This is the urgency and necessity for military procurement to pass at this time.”
Vice President Hsiao’s exclusive interview with Mirror TV will be broadcast tonight at 10 PM. According to content released in advance by Mirror TV, Vice President Hsiao analyzed the stalled NT$1.25 trillion military procurement case from three perspectives.
Vice President Hsiao pointed out that China’s military investment is growing exponentially. In contrast, according to statistics from international think tanks, Taiwan has the lowest defense expenditure among East Asian countries. Although Taiwan is relatively small, it faces enormous security risks and pressures. Increased defense budgets are not unique to Taiwan; they are also seen in Japan, South Korea, NATO, and Middle Eastern countries.
She called for not underestimating the will of authoritarian governments to expand their territories. Before Russia invaded Ukraine, Ukrainians also did not believe Russia would invade.
The Vice President mentioned the challenges and conflicts in the “gray zone.” She said that when she visited Europe last year, Brussels Airport was briefly closed due to drone intrusions. Perhaps it was unrelated to her visit, but frankly, this kind of “gray zone” intrusion has quietly appeared globally. China's ambition to annex Taiwan is evident, and the international community is watching whether Taiwan itself has the determination to defend the status quo of freedom and democracy.
She said that Taiwan's industries are growing stronger and are economically intertwined with many countries. Taiwan's stock market value has even leaped to sixth globally. When the international community considers investing in Taiwan and cooperating with Taiwan, they will also consider the situation in the Taiwan Strait and whether the Taiwanese people have the ability to defend themselves. “Therefore, the people's demonstration of self-defense willpower is not at the request of the United States, but for their own continuous economic stability.”
Facing public skepticism about the NT$1.25 trillion figure, Vice President Hsiao used the analogy of “installing security bars.” She said that installing security bars is not because there is too much money, but to make it more difficult for intruders. “Some people think security bars are not enough and also need to install security systems, surveillance cameras, and even use AI for automatic alerts.”
The Vice President detailed three main channels—military procurement, commercial procurement, and commissioned production—to build a multi-layered “deterrence.” She emphasized that this is not just about buying weapons, but also deeply linking Taiwan's precision machinery capabilities with the global reliable supply chain.
She stressed the need for innovation and adjustment of defense methods. Faced with great risks, multi-layered deterrence is needed, so that the national army can obtain better equipment more promptly to defend Taiwan's security. Some question whether NT$1.25 trillion is worth it, but spread over 8 years, the budget of NT$1.25 trillion amounts to approximately NT$6,000 per person annually. “Some people think spending over NT$6,000 a year is too expensive, but for many, life is priceless.”
Vice President Hsiao stated that this is not a blank check. Life is priceless, and to invest in a strong national security is to avoid war. No one wants to enter a state of conflict. Most people in Taiwan love peace. Neither former President Tsai Ing-wen nor President Lai Ching-te consider war an option. We must be prepared to make those who want to invade Taiwan think twice, making them realize the threshold is higher and the risk of success is great. (Editor: Hsieh Chia-chen) 1150505
Choose to stand with facts. Your every sponsorship is a force for protecting press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency 'First-Hand News' APP to get the latest news in real-time.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.