To Resolve Dilemma, Executive Yuan Plans to Propose Separate Special Defense Act or Supplementary Budget
In response to the Legislative Yuan's reduction of the special defense budget, Premier Cho Jung-tai has instructed the Ministry of National Defense to promptly consider proposing an additional special act or a supplementary budget that complies with the Constitution and the Budget Act.
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- 📰 Published: May 14, 2026 at 13:23
- 🔍 Collected: May 14, 2026 at 13:32 (8 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 15, 2026 at 06:18 (16h 46m after Collected)
(Central News Agency, Taipei, 14th, by reporter Lai Yu-chen) The Legislative Yuan's recent third reading passage of a special defense act, which excluded commercial purchases and commissioned production cases, has drawn attention. Premier Cho Jung-tai stated today that the Taiwan Shield, AI Kill Chain, and Indigenous Defense are all indispensable. He has asked the Ministry of National Defense to quickly respond to the items not included in this special act by considering options such as proposing another special act, a supplementary budget, or expanding the annual budget scale in a manner consistent with the Constitution and the Budget Act.
The Legislative Yuan recently passed the 'Special Act for the Procurement Plan to Safeguard National Security and Strengthen Asymmetric Warfare Capabilities,' with a budget ceiling of NT$780 billion, excluding commercial purchases and commissioned production cases. This is a NT$470 billion difference from the Executive Yuan's original version of NT$1.25 trillion over eight years. Premier Cho Jung-tai had previously stated 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 the provisions of the Budget Act. The public is watching to see when a plan will be finalized.
The Ministry of National Defense reported on the 'Unapproved Items of the Special Defense Budget and Their Impact' at the Executive Yuan meeting today. Executive Yuan spokesperson Li Hui-chih, at a press conference after the meeting, relayed that Premier Cho, after hearing the report, pointed out that the unapproved items in the special defense budget would disrupt the comprehensive planning of joint operational capability requirements, including command and control decision-making, all-domain situational awareness, the Taiwan Shield, defense resilience, and Taiwan-U.S. cooperation.
Premier Cho emphasized that constructing the Taiwan Shield, a high-tech kill chain, and industrial autonomy are the 'three pieces of the puzzle' for national security, and none can be missing. He asked the Ministry of National Defense to promptly respond to the items not included in this special act by considering options such as proposing another special act, a supplementary budget, or expanding the annual budget scale in a manner consistent with the Constitution and the Budget Act.
He also added that the payment deadline for the HIMARS rocket system is approaching on May 31. He hopes the ruling and opposition parties in the Legislative Yuan will pass the special budget as soon as possible and immediately send it to committee for review, so the military can have more complete combat capabilities. The Executive Yuan and the Ministry of National Defense will fully cooperate with the legislative process, hoping that Congress will not delay this critical moment and lose out on military procurement items that have already been negotiated. (Editor: Su Lung-chi) 1150514
The Legislative Yuan recently passed the 'Special Act for the Procurement Plan to Safeguard National Security and Strengthen Asymmetric Warfare Capabilities,' with a budget ceiling of NT$780 billion, excluding commercial purchases and commissioned production cases. This is a NT$470 billion difference from the Executive Yuan's original version of NT$1.25 trillion over eight years. Premier Cho Jung-tai had previously stated 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 the provisions of the Budget Act. The public is watching to see when a plan will be finalized.
The Ministry of National Defense reported on the 'Unapproved Items of the Special Defense Budget and Their Impact' at the Executive Yuan meeting today. Executive Yuan spokesperson Li Hui-chih, at a press conference after the meeting, relayed that Premier Cho, after hearing the report, pointed out that the unapproved items in the special defense budget would disrupt the comprehensive planning of joint operational capability requirements, including command and control decision-making, all-domain situational awareness, the Taiwan Shield, defense resilience, and Taiwan-U.S. cooperation.
Premier Cho emphasized that constructing the Taiwan Shield, a high-tech kill chain, and industrial autonomy are the 'three pieces of the puzzle' for national security, and none can be missing. He asked the Ministry of National Defense to promptly respond to the items not included in this special act by considering options such as proposing another special act, a supplementary budget, or expanding the annual budget scale in a manner consistent with the Constitution and the Budget Act.
He also added that the payment deadline for the HIMARS rocket system is approaching on May 31. He hopes the ruling and opposition parties in the Legislative Yuan will pass the special budget as soon as possible and immediately send it to committee for review, so the military can have more complete combat capabilities. The Executive Yuan and the Ministry of National Defense will fully cooperate with the legislative process, hoping that Congress will not delay this critical moment and lose out on military procurement items that have already been negotiated. (Editor: Su Lung-chi) 1150514