Taiwan Executive Yuan approves 607.6 billion TWD supplementary budget

The Executive Yuan has approved a supplementary budget for fiscal year 115 totaling approximately 607.6 billion TWD. Key allocations include a 233.8 billion TWD capital increase for CPC Corporation (CPC) and 187.5 billion TWD for measures to stabilize livelihoods in response to Middle East conflicts.

Defense spending is a major component, with 145.7 billion TWD allocated for weapons, ammunition procurement, and increasing military personnel benefits. This includes 55.9 billion TWD for unmanned vehicles, which was previously a point of contention regarding whether such funds required a special budget.

Other allocations include 21.5 billion TWD for social welfare subsidies, such as elderly farmer benefits and national pensions, and 10.7 billion TWD to increase professional allowances for military, civil service, and education personnel. The budget also includes 7 billion TWD for post-disaster reconstruction following the Hualien Mataian Creek landslide.

The Kuomintang (KMT) has criticized the move, specifically targeting the CPC capital increase. KMT Secretary-General Hsu Yu-chen argued that the large sum should have been included in the regular 116 fiscal year budget rather than being ‘smuggled’ into a supplementary budget with a short three-month review window. The KMT indicated they may consider deleting the entire proposal during legislative review.