Lai Ching-te: No concerns of opacity in Executive Yuan's special defense bill, hopes for cross-party support
President Lai Ching-te emphasized that the Executive Yuan's special defense bill draft has no concerns of opacity as it will undergo thorough deliberation and oversight by the Legislative Yuan. He urged cross-party support for the comprehensive bill, which includes not only military procurement but also commercial purchases and commissioned manufacturing.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 6, 2026 at 17:21
- 🔍 Collected: May 6, 2026 at 17:33 (11 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 6, 2026 at 17:59 (25 min after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Yeh Su-ping, Taipei, May 6) President Lai Ching-te, who is also the chairperson of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), stated today that the Ministry of National Defense has already explained the special defense budget bill draft in detail to legislators. Furthermore, after the bill is passed, the Executive Yuan will still need to allocate a special budget in accordance with the law, submit it to the Legislative Yuan for item-by-item review, and accept full supervision. Therefore, there are absolutely no concerns of opacity. He hopes for cross-party support for the complete, undiluted Executive Yuan version.
The DPP held a Central Standing Committee meeting today, and Lai Ching-te said that the Legislative Yuan would hold another cross-party caucus negotiation meeting on the special defense budget bill draft at 3 p.m. today.
Lai Ching-te stated that the special defense budget bill proposed by the Executive Yuan is a comprehensive and systematic plan put forward by the Ministry of National Defense based on overall national strategic needs and domestic industrial development layout, and after multiple discussions and evaluations with the United States. In addition to military procurement, it also incorporates diverse approaches such as commercial purchases and commissioned manufacturing.
He said that regarding commercial purchases, the "AI-assisted intelligence decision-making module" will help enhance combat decision-making and precise intelligence analysis capabilities. The "portable anti-drone system" will strengthen the military's anti-drone capabilities during the defense phase, safeguarding troop safety and overall combat power.
Lai Ching-te stated that commissioned manufacturing includes the "Strongbow medium-range anti-ballistic missile" developed by Academia Sinica, used to build layered defense and improve overall air defense interception capabilities; as well as various unmanned aerial vehicles such as the "Albatross II maritime reconnaissance drone" and "Coastal attack drones" to strengthen the precision strike and battlefield reconnaissance capabilities of long-range firepower.
Lai Ching-te said that, in contrast, the versions proposed by opposition parties, whether the NT$380 billion plus N or the NT$800 billion plan, are not only clearly insufficient in scale but also lack comprehensive planning for commercial purchases and commissioned manufacturing. This will not only affect the overall enhancement of defense capabilities but also impact the indigenous R&D capabilities, including drones.
Regarding the opposition party's doubts about so-called "blank authorization" and "unclear procurement details," Lai Ching-te said that the Ministry of National Defense has already provided detailed explanations to legislators through two confidential special reports and one overall plan report. More importantly, after the bill is passed, the Executive Yuan will still need to allocate a special budget in accordance with the law, submit it to the Legislative Yuan for item-by-item review, and accept full supervision. Therefore, there are absolutely no concerns of opacity.
Lai Ching-te said he sincerely appealed to today's cross-party caucus negotiation that all political parties should prioritize national security and support the complete, undiluted Executive Yuan version, allowing various military building efforts to proceed steadily and lay a firmer foundation for Taiwan's safety and development.
According to reports, DPP caucus whip Tsai Chi-chang mentioned at the Central Standing Committee meeting that in two confidential meetings, the Ministry of National Defense had fully listed the items and amounts, totaling NT$1.25 trillion. The Ministry of National Defense has fully disclosed the content to the opposition parties, and it is their business if they choose not to listen. There is no blank authorization or opacity at all.
According to reports, legislator Chuang Jui-hsiung believes that today's cross-party caucus negotiation might break down. The KMT's proposals, whether NT$380 billion or NT$800 billion, are just a show, and the main point is to block it. Therefore, he is pessimistic about today's military procurement negotiation; however, he also said that even if it breaks down, the NT$1.25 trillion plan must still be clearly explained. (Editor: Su Chih-chung) 1150506
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(Central News Agency reporter Yeh Su-ping, Taipei, May 6) President Lai Ching-te, who is also the chairperson of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), stated today that the Ministry of National Defense has already explained the special defense budget bill draft in detail to legislators. Furthermore, after the bill is passed, the Executive Yuan will still need to allocate a special budget in accordance with the law, submit it to the Legislative Yuan for item-by-item review, and accept full supervision. Therefore, there are absolutely no concerns of opacity. He hopes for cross-party support for the complete, undiluted Executive Yuan version.
The DPP held a Central Standing Committee meeting today, and Lai Ching-te said that the Legislative Yuan would hold another cross-party caucus negotiation meeting on the special defense budget bill draft at 3 p.m. today.
Lai Ching-te stated that the special defense budget bill proposed by the Executive Yuan is a comprehensive and systematic plan put forward by the Ministry of National Defense based on overall national strategic needs and domestic industrial development layout, and after multiple discussions and evaluations with the United States. In addition to military procurement, it also incorporates diverse approaches such as commercial purchases and commissioned manufacturing.
He said that regarding commercial purchases, the "AI-assisted intelligence decision-making module" will help enhance combat decision-making and precise intelligence analysis capabilities. The "portable anti-drone system" will strengthen the military's anti-drone capabilities during the defense phase, safeguarding troop safety and overall combat power.
Lai Ching-te stated that commissioned manufacturing includes the "Strongbow medium-range anti-ballistic missile" developed by Academia Sinica, used to build layered defense and improve overall air defense interception capabilities; as well as various unmanned aerial vehicles such as the "Albatross II maritime reconnaissance drone" and "Coastal attack drones" to strengthen the precision strike and battlefield reconnaissance capabilities of long-range firepower.
Lai Ching-te said that, in contrast, the versions proposed by opposition parties, whether the NT$380 billion plus N or the NT$800 billion plan, are not only clearly insufficient in scale but also lack comprehensive planning for commercial purchases and commissioned manufacturing. This will not only affect the overall enhancement of defense capabilities but also impact the indigenous R&D capabilities, including drones.
Regarding the opposition party's doubts about so-called "blank authorization" and "unclear procurement details," Lai Ching-te said that the Ministry of National Defense has already provided detailed explanations to legislators through two confidential special reports and one overall plan report. More importantly, after the bill is passed, the Executive Yuan will still need to allocate a special budget in accordance with the law, submit it to the Legislative Yuan for item-by-item review, and accept full supervision. Therefore, there are absolutely no concerns of opacity.
Lai Ching-te said he sincerely appealed to today's cross-party caucus negotiation that all political parties should prioritize national security and support the complete, undiluted Executive Yuan version, allowing various military building efforts to proceed steadily and lay a firmer foundation for Taiwan's safety and development.
According to reports, DPP caucus whip Tsai Chi-chang mentioned at the Central Standing Committee meeting that in two confidential meetings, the Ministry of National Defense had fully listed the items and amounts, totaling NT$1.25 trillion. The Ministry of National Defense has fully disclosed the content to the opposition parties, and it is their business if they choose not to listen. There is no blank authorization or opacity at all.
According to reports, legislator Chuang Jui-hsiung believes that today's cross-party caucus negotiation might break down. The KMT's proposals, whether NT$380 billion or NT$800 billion, are just a show, and the main point is to block it. Therefore, he is pessimistic about today's military procurement negotiation; however, he also said that even if it breaks down, the NT$1.25 trillion plan must still be clearly explained. (Editor: Su Chih-chung) 1150506
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is a force for protecting press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency's "First-hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and utilized without authorization.