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2026-08-31 09:49 UTC → 2026-09-02 13:04 UTC ·
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A The political dispute has emerged in Taiwan regarding the procurement of Mid-Autumn Festival mooncakes from sheltered workshops that employ people with disabilities. has intensified. The controversy stems from centers on the freezing or reduction of the Presidential Office’s state affairs expenses in the 2026 central budget, which reportedly prevented the office from fulfilling customary orders for approximately 15,000 mooncake boxes from 37 protected factories. Political figures workshops employing people with disabilities. Demands for transparency have traded accusations over the cause of increased, with KMT Taipei City Councilor Qin Huizhu questioning the shortfall. While some officials noted that Kuomintang (KMT) legislator Weng Hsiao-ling proposed Presidential Office regarding original order quantities, unit prices, and the reduction distribution of these expenses, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) argued boxes. Qin noted that the situation resulted from budget cuts by KMT and Ko Alliance legislators. Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen some workshops claimed the Presidential Office ‘abandoned the orders’, a characterization they received only inquiries rather than formal orders, raising questions about the DPP contested as a political narrative. office’s credibility. In response to the loss of large-scale institutional orders, local leaders shortfall, various political figures have attempted to provide support. taken individual action. While Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an announced a donation of 300,000 TWD donation, Kuomintang (KMT) Chairperson Cheng Li-wen announced she personally spent 4.02 million TWD to purchase mooncakes, and the Taichung City Government was directed to step in for five local 9,780 boxes from 20 workshops. However, critics have argued that such individual donations cannot fully compensate for Cheng stated she is acting in a personal capacity to support the impact of workshops and avoid using limited KMT party funds, while criticizing the cancelled orders. Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) for using vulnerable groups as ‘political leverage’ during budget disputes.