Kuo Ya-hui Urges Bipartisan Support for Defense Budget, Special Defense Act to Pass Before Xi-Trump Meeting
Taiwan's Presidential Office spokesperson, Kuo Ya-hui, urged bipartisan support for the NT$1.25 trillion defense special budget, emphasizing the international community's focus on Taiwan's self-defense capabilities. She highlighted concerns over opposition parties' proposals excluding drones and indigenous defense industries, stressing the need for the bill to pass before the "Xi-Trump meeting."
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 7, 2026 at 13:27
- 🔍 Collected: May 7, 2026 at 14:01 (34 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 8, 2026 at 01:16 (11h 14m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Wen Kuei-hsiang, Yeh Su-ping, Taipei 7th) Presidential Office spokesperson Kuo Ya-hui stated today that the international community is concerned about whether Taiwan demonstrates confidence and determination in strengthening its self-defense, and called on both ruling and opposition parties to support the Executive Yuan's version of the NT$1.25 trillion defense special act over eight years. She said that the current proposals by opposition parties exclude drones and the indigenous defense industry supply chain, which is a major warning; she hopes the special defense act can pass smoothly in the Legislative Yuan before the Xi-Trump meeting.
Kuo Ya-hui said in an interview this morning that the joint military exercises by the US, Japan, and the Philippines are underway, and countries like Japan and the Philippines continue to strengthen their defense capabilities. The international community continues to pay attention to Taiwan's confidence and determination in its self-defense capabilities and national defense, and this display of willpower is what the international community hopes to understand now.
Kuo Ya-hui stated that nearly 70% of Taiwanese public opinion hopes that the relevant defense budget can be passed; therefore, she called on the Legislative Yuan, regardless of party affiliation, to actively promote it. However, the opposition party versions currently being discussed, whether NT$380 billion or NT$800 billion, exclude indigenous defense, including drones and related indigenous defense industry supply chains, which is a major warning.
Kuo Ya-hui said she hopes that the full version proposed by the Executive Yuan, NT$1.25 trillion over eight years, can be smoothly passed.
Reporters further asked about rumors that Beijing authorities are pressuring collaborators in Taiwan not to pass the special military procurement act draft before the Xi-Trump meeting. Kuo Ya-hui reiterated her call, hoping that the strengthened defense act can pass the Legislative Yuan as soon as possible, without distinguishing between blue and green, but consistently aiming to strengthen national defense. She hopes the special defense act can pass smoothly before the Xi-Trump meeting.
In response, the Democratic Progressive Party issued a press release. DPP spokesperson Lin Chu-yin stated that the Ministry of National Defense's professional plan for the NT$1.25 trillion version over eight years includes not only military purchases from the US but also commercial purchases, commissioned manufacturing, indigenous research and development, and industrial layout. However, regardless of the KMT or TPP versions, both cut commercial purchases and delete commissioned manufacturing, resulting in a shortfall of at least NT$300 billion. Cutting commercial purchases means telling the CCP that Taiwan's beachhead defense still has loopholes; deleting commissioned manufacturing means blocking Taiwan from the democratic partners' drone supply chain that aims to remove red (Chinese) components.
Lin Chu-yin stated that the KMT also said they would only agree to the budget after receiving the US "Letter of Offer and Acceptance" (LOA). Minister of National Defense Kuo Li-hsiung directly stated that the LOA signing period is usually very short. If they wait for the LOA to arrive before passing the act and reviewing the budget, the Legislative Yuan would have no time to review it, which would be true blank authorization.
In addition, the Legislative Yuan held a recorded vote on May 5 for the personnel consent case of Prosecutor General nominee Hsu Hsi-hsiang. Under the circumstances that KMT and TPP legislators cast dissenting votes, Hsu Hsi-hsiang did not reach the consent threshold. Kuo Ya-hui stated that the President deeply regrets this outcome. To avoid affecting operational duties, the President will, based on the Executive Yuan's report, appoint an acting representative as per precedent.
Kuo Ya-hui stated that nominee Hsu Hsi-hsiang has excellent experience in the prosecutorial system and cross-agency experience in integrity and national security affairs, making him suitable for the position of Prosecutor General. It is regrettable that due to the current parliamentary situation, the personnel case could not be smoothly passed. The President thanks him for accepting the nomination and for his efforts during this period.
Kuo Ya-hui pointed out that approving the Prosecutor General nominee is a joint constitutional responsibility of the President and the Legislative Yuan. She hopes that political parties across the aisle can prioritize upholding judicial justice for the people and jointly maintain the normal operation of the prosecutorial system. (Edited by Su Chih-tsung) 1150507
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency "First-hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and audio-visual content on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.
(Central News Agency reporter Wen Kuei-hsiang, Yeh Su-ping, Taipei 7th) Presidential Office spokesperson Kuo Ya-hui stated today that the international community is concerned about whether Taiwan demonstrates confidence and determination in strengthening its self-defense, and called on both ruling and opposition parties to support the Executive Yuan's version of the NT$1.25 trillion defense special act over eight years. She said that the current proposals by opposition parties exclude drones and the indigenous defense industry supply chain, which is a major warning; she hopes the special defense act can pass smoothly in the Legislative Yuan before the Xi-Trump meeting.
Kuo Ya-hui said in an interview this morning that the joint military exercises by the US, Japan, and the Philippines are underway, and countries like Japan and the Philippines continue to strengthen their defense capabilities. The international community continues to pay attention to Taiwan's confidence and determination in its self-defense capabilities and national defense, and this display of willpower is what the international community hopes to understand now.
Kuo Ya-hui stated that nearly 70% of Taiwanese public opinion hopes that the relevant defense budget can be passed; therefore, she called on the Legislative Yuan, regardless of party affiliation, to actively promote it. However, the opposition party versions currently being discussed, whether NT$380 billion or NT$800 billion, exclude indigenous defense, including drones and related indigenous defense industry supply chains, which is a major warning.
Kuo Ya-hui said she hopes that the full version proposed by the Executive Yuan, NT$1.25 trillion over eight years, can be smoothly passed.
Reporters further asked about rumors that Beijing authorities are pressuring collaborators in Taiwan not to pass the special military procurement act draft before the Xi-Trump meeting. Kuo Ya-hui reiterated her call, hoping that the strengthened defense act can pass the Legislative Yuan as soon as possible, without distinguishing between blue and green, but consistently aiming to strengthen national defense. She hopes the special defense act can pass smoothly before the Xi-Trump meeting.
In response, the Democratic Progressive Party issued a press release. DPP spokesperson Lin Chu-yin stated that the Ministry of National Defense's professional plan for the NT$1.25 trillion version over eight years includes not only military purchases from the US but also commercial purchases, commissioned manufacturing, indigenous research and development, and industrial layout. However, regardless of the KMT or TPP versions, both cut commercial purchases and delete commissioned manufacturing, resulting in a shortfall of at least NT$300 billion. Cutting commercial purchases means telling the CCP that Taiwan's beachhead defense still has loopholes; deleting commissioned manufacturing means blocking Taiwan from the democratic partners' drone supply chain that aims to remove red (Chinese) components.
Lin Chu-yin stated that the KMT also said they would only agree to the budget after receiving the US "Letter of Offer and Acceptance" (LOA). Minister of National Defense Kuo Li-hsiung directly stated that the LOA signing period is usually very short. If they wait for the LOA to arrive before passing the act and reviewing the budget, the Legislative Yuan would have no time to review it, which would be true blank authorization.
In addition, the Legislative Yuan held a recorded vote on May 5 for the personnel consent case of Prosecutor General nominee Hsu Hsi-hsiang. Under the circumstances that KMT and TPP legislators cast dissenting votes, Hsu Hsi-hsiang did not reach the consent threshold. Kuo Ya-hui stated that the President deeply regrets this outcome. To avoid affecting operational duties, the President will, based on the Executive Yuan's report, appoint an acting representative as per precedent.
Kuo Ya-hui stated that nominee Hsu Hsi-hsiang has excellent experience in the prosecutorial system and cross-agency experience in integrity and national security affairs, making him suitable for the position of Prosecutor General. It is regrettable that due to the current parliamentary situation, the personnel case could not be smoothly passed. The President thanks him for accepting the nomination and for his efforts during this period.
Kuo Ya-hui pointed out that approving the Prosecutor General nominee is a joint constitutional responsibility of the President and the Legislative Yuan. She hopes that political parties across the aisle can prioritize upholding judicial justice for the people and jointly maintain the normal operation of the prosecutorial system. (Edited by Su Chih-tsung) 1150507
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency "First-hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and audio-visual content on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.