Premier Cho Jung-tai Seeks Full Legislative Support for Swift Passage of Special Military Budget

(CNA, Taipei, by reporter Wang Cheng-chung, 20th) Premier Cho Jung-tai reported to the Legislative Yuan today on the formulation of the first special military procurement budget. He stated that the items to be procured under this special budget have been planned with confirmed willingness to sell, export permits, production capacity schedules, and delivery timelines, all meeting the operational needs of the armed forces. He implored lawmakers from all parties to give their full support for its early passage to jointly defend the homeland. The Executive Yuan held an extraordinary meeting today and passed the "Special Budget for the Central Government's Plan to Safeguard National Security and Strengthen Asymmetric Warfare Capabilities for Fiscal Year 2026." For the first batch of military procurement from the U.S., the budget is formulated on an annual basis, with a total estimated cost of approximately NT$294.99 billion, of which NT$8.8 billion is allocated for this year and sent to the Legislative Yuan for review. This afternoon, the Legislative Yuan invited Premier Cho Jung-tai, the head of the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics, the Minister of Finance, the Minister of National Defense, and other relevant ministry heads to report on the preparation of the special budget for the first batch of Letters of Offer and Acceptance under the plan and to answer questions. In his report, Cho pointed out that in the face of China's increasingly frequent and highly targeted military exercises, as well as escalating gray-zone intrusions, Taiwan's overall asymmetric combat equipment, technology, and operational methods urgently need to be adjusted without delay. This is to enhance sustained combat capabilities, ensure national security, and maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. Cho stated that the Ministry of National Defense, in accordance with the special regulations, proposed a total budget of NT$295 billion for the first batch of items. The Executive Yuan has since compiled the "Republic of China 2026 Central Government Special Budget for the Plan to Safeguard National Security and Strengthen Asymmetric Warfare Capabilities." An expenditure of NT$8.8 billion has been allocated for a portion of the first batch items, including the procurement of M109A7 self-propelled howitzers, HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems, anti-armor loitering munition systems, Javelin anti-tank missiles, and TOW 2B anti-tank missile weapon systems. Cho noted that the required funding, as per the special regulations, will be financed entirely through borrowing. This year, further budgets will be formulated based on the status of the Letters of Offer and Acceptance for the second batch of items. Additionally, the estimated budget requirement for fiscal year 2027 is about NT$100 billion, with the remainder to be allocated from 2028 to 2033. Cho stated that the items procured under this special budget are planned based on confirmed willingness to sell, export permits, production capacity, and delivery schedules, and meet the operational needs of the armed forces. He assured that the Executive Yuan will strictly adhere to budget review procedures, plan meticulously, and execute concretely, pleading for the full support of all lawmakers for the swift passage of the special budget to jointly defend the homeland.