KMT Caucus Proposes NT$5,000 Monthly Subsidy for Ages 0-15 to Combat Low Birth Rate

(CNA, Taipei, May 18, by reporter Liu Kuan-ting) To address the low birth rate, the Kuomintang (KMT) legislative caucus today proposed three response policies, including fully free health insurance for ages 0-6; a childcare subsidy of NT$20,000 every six months for ages 0-6; and a monthly parenting subsidy of NT$5,000 for ages 0-15. The budget for these three policies is approximately NT$241.6 billion per year. Caucus Secretary-General Lin Pei-hsiang urged the government to stop treating the improvement of the low birth rate as a mere slogan. The KMT caucus held a press conference today where Lin Pei-hsiang pointed out that when discussing national security, some think of missiles, military procurement, or conscription. However, if a country has fewer and fewer children, and the next generation dares not be born, that is the most severe national security crisis. Lin said the KMT caucus formally proposes the 'Save the Nation's Future: Livelihood Policies to Combat the Low Birth Rate,' with three specific demands. First, 'Free health insurance for children aged 0-6,' with an overall annual budget of about NT$20 billion. Second, 'A childcare subsidy of NT$20,000 every six months for ages 0-6,' with an estimated annual cost of about NT$50 billion. Third, 'A monthly parenting subsidy of NT$5,000 for ages 0-15,' with an overall annual budget of about NT$171.6 billion. Lin believes the budget for these three specific policies proposed by the KMT caucus is about NT$241.6 billion a year, less than 1% of GDP and only about 8% of this year's total budget. These policies would allow young people to dare to marry, young families to dare to have children, parents to be willing to stay in Taiwan, and the country to have a next generation. He called on the government to stop treating the improvement of the low birth rate as a slogan, and to stop just holding forums, making presentations, and filming promotional videos. What young people need is not a touching video, but an actual extra NT$5,000 in their accounts. KMT Caucus Chief Deputy Secretary-General Hsu Yu-chen said that the concrete measures proposed by neighboring Asian countries to address their low birth rates prove one thing: short-term subsidies and long-term policies must be equally prioritized. What the country needs now is systematic, long-term investment for the future of generations. The KMT caucus today has clearly calculated the policies, budgets, and supporting measures. This is not about handing out money, but 'buying insurance' for the Republic of China and 'laying the foundation' for Taiwan's future. KMT Legislator Hsieh Lung-chieh, who was also present, stated that Taiwan's number of newborns has already fallen below 110,000 and may fall below 100,000 by the end of the year. He called on President Lai Ching-te to face the problem, stating that the low birth rate is the real national security crisis. By solving the economic problems of young people, and ultimately achieving 'free meals and free education' for children, the KMT caucus will implement and achieve this step by step. (Editors: Su Lung-chi, Yang Kai-hsiang) 1150518