Executive Yuan to Propose a Second Military Procurement Bill? DPP Caucus: No Such Information at Present
Regarding the opposition-led National Defense Special Statute passed by the Legislative Yuan on the 8th, which differs significantly in items and budget from the Executive Yuan's version, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus stated today that there is currently no information about the Executive Yuan intending to promote a second military procurement bill. They explained that if the Executive Yuan were to propose it again, it would be to patch up and complete the overall defense capabilities.
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- 📰 Published: May 13, 2026 at 13:30
- 🔍 Collected: May 13, 2026 at 14:01 (31 min after Published)
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Central News Agency, Taipei, May 13 - Reporter Lin Ching-yin
The Legislative Yuan passed the opposition-led version of the National Defense Special Statute on the 8th, with items and budget differing significantly from the Executive Yuan's version. Regarding the Executive Yuan's intention to promote a second military procurement bill, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislative Yuan caucus stated today that there is currently no such information, and if the Executive Yuan were to propose it again, it would be to "patch the net" and complete the overall defense capabilities.
The Legislative Yuan passed the National Defense Special Statute on the 8th, with a budget ceiling of NT$780 billion, a NT$470 billion difference from the original Executive Yuan version of NT$1.25 trillion over 8 years, excluding commercial purchases and commissioned manufacturing projects. Premier Cho Jung-tai stated yesterday that the three pieces of the military procurement puzzle are indispensable and that he would seek the most effective path under the spirit of the constitution and budget law regulations. This statement was interpreted by the outside world as the Presidential Office and Executive Yuan not ruling out promoting a second military procurement bill.
DPP caucus whip Chuang Jui-hsiung said there is currently no information about proposing a second special military procurement bill. If the Executive Yuan were to propose it again, it would indeed be a move to patch things up.
Chuang stated that during the review of the previous special procurement bill for safeguarding national security and strengthening asymmetric warfare capabilities, the DPP caucus repeatedly urged not to treat it as an online shopping list. Taiwan's weapon systems are almost all US-spec, and instead of just purchasing from abroad, it would be beneficial for Taiwan's overall combat capability enhancement to form defense autonomy through Taiwan-US technical cooperation. He lamented that the budget was unfortunately slashed by the opposition parties. If the executive branch proposes it again to the Legislative Yuan, it would be to complete the overall defense capabilities.
Regarding the upcoming Trump-Xi meeting, some media reported that US President Trump revealed he would discuss arms sales to Taiwan with Chinese President Xi Jinping, a move that could cross the red line of the US's Six Assurances to Taiwan. KMT legislator Hsu Chiao-hsin said Taiwan has become a bargaining chip and the ruling party should state its position.
Chuang responded that if the KMT could condemn the CCP with such ferocity, even the DPP would applaud. The US has already issued letters of offer for arms sales to Taiwan and requested payment by the end of May, which sufficiently proves US military support for Taiwan and its guarantee for overall defense. There is no need to undermine trust in the US.
Chuang said there's no need to even ask if Xi Jinping would oppose US arms sales to Taiwan; he will definitely oppose any country's military support for Taiwan. Caucus secretary-general Fan Yun also said it's normal for Xi Jinping to oppose US arms sales to Taiwan; Xi hopes Taiwanese would just lie down and surrender with zero armaments. Instead of worrying about what will be said at the Trump-Xi meeting, she said, one should worry about the US State Department's public statement that the National Defense Special Statute passed by the legislature, from its items to its funding, is beneficial to the CCP.
As for KMT legislator Ma Wen-chun's statement that the special budget should be used to buy the best and most immediate weapons and equipment, and that drones should be discussed by the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and included in the annual budget.
Chuang retorted that any member of parliament with a little common sense should know that if the country's total budget is increased by 2% for the defense budget, it will squeeze out other budgets. It is precisely to solve this problem that a special statute is needed.
Deputy caucus secretary-general Huang Jie said that Ma Wen-chun has said too much. She questioned whether this year's budget should be reviewed first, as it has been delayed for nearly a year. With this year's budget not even passed yet, all this talk is excessive and is just opposing for the sake of opposition. (Editor: Lin Shu-yuan) 1150513
The Legislative Yuan passed the opposition-led version of the National Defense Special Statute on the 8th, with items and budget differing significantly from the Executive Yuan's version. Regarding the Executive Yuan's intention to promote a second military procurement bill, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislative Yuan caucus stated today that there is currently no such information, and if the Executive Yuan were to propose it again, it would be to "patch the net" and complete the overall defense capabilities.
The Legislative Yuan passed the National Defense Special Statute on the 8th, with a budget ceiling of NT$780 billion, a NT$470 billion difference from the original Executive Yuan version of NT$1.25 trillion over 8 years, excluding commercial purchases and commissioned manufacturing projects. Premier Cho Jung-tai stated yesterday that the three pieces of the military procurement puzzle are indispensable and that he would seek the most effective path under the spirit of the constitution and budget law regulations. This statement was interpreted by the outside world as the Presidential Office and Executive Yuan not ruling out promoting a second military procurement bill.
DPP caucus whip Chuang Jui-hsiung said there is currently no information about proposing a second special military procurement bill. If the Executive Yuan were to propose it again, it would indeed be a move to patch things up.
Chuang stated that during the review of the previous special procurement bill for safeguarding national security and strengthening asymmetric warfare capabilities, the DPP caucus repeatedly urged not to treat it as an online shopping list. Taiwan's weapon systems are almost all US-spec, and instead of just purchasing from abroad, it would be beneficial for Taiwan's overall combat capability enhancement to form defense autonomy through Taiwan-US technical cooperation. He lamented that the budget was unfortunately slashed by the opposition parties. If the executive branch proposes it again to the Legislative Yuan, it would be to complete the overall defense capabilities.
Regarding the upcoming Trump-Xi meeting, some media reported that US President Trump revealed he would discuss arms sales to Taiwan with Chinese President Xi Jinping, a move that could cross the red line of the US's Six Assurances to Taiwan. KMT legislator Hsu Chiao-hsin said Taiwan has become a bargaining chip and the ruling party should state its position.
Chuang responded that if the KMT could condemn the CCP with such ferocity, even the DPP would applaud. The US has already issued letters of offer for arms sales to Taiwan and requested payment by the end of May, which sufficiently proves US military support for Taiwan and its guarantee for overall defense. There is no need to undermine trust in the US.
Chuang said there's no need to even ask if Xi Jinping would oppose US arms sales to Taiwan; he will definitely oppose any country's military support for Taiwan. Caucus secretary-general Fan Yun also said it's normal for Xi Jinping to oppose US arms sales to Taiwan; Xi hopes Taiwanese would just lie down and surrender with zero armaments. Instead of worrying about what will be said at the Trump-Xi meeting, she said, one should worry about the US State Department's public statement that the National Defense Special Statute passed by the legislature, from its items to its funding, is beneficial to the CCP.
As for KMT legislator Ma Wen-chun's statement that the special budget should be used to buy the best and most immediate weapons and equipment, and that drones should be discussed by the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and included in the annual budget.
Chuang retorted that any member of parliament with a little common sense should know that if the country's total budget is increased by 2% for the defense budget, it will squeeze out other budgets. It is precisely to solve this problem that a special statute is needed.
Deputy caucus secretary-general Huang Jie said that Ma Wen-chun has said too much. She questioned whether this year's budget should be reviewed first, as it has been delayed for nearly a year. With this year's budget not even passed yet, all this talk is excessive and is just opposing for the sake of opposition. (Editor: Lin Shu-yuan) 1150513