The Cabinet’s special budget relief bill of NT$410 billion (US$12.6 billion) was successfully submitted in the Legislature on Friday. The bill includes allotments for industrial relief, as well as a subsidy for Taipower Company, the latter of which is opposed by the KMT.
The Cabinet’s special budget proposal, officially the "Special Act for Strengthening Economic, Social, and National Security Resilience in Response to International Circumstances" (因應國際情勢強化經濟社會及國土安全韌性特別條例), has been much anticipated as the central government's response to the economic hardship caused by the Trump Administration's reciprocal tariffs. Of the NT$410 billion, NT$93 billion (US$2.86 billion) is allotted for industrial relief, and NT$100 billion (just under US$3.1 billion) will subsidize the Taipower company, with the goal of lightening companies' bills in the coming months.
DPP Secretary-General Rosalia Wu (吴思瑶) believes that all parties will support the bill, especially given its goals to not only bolster Taiwan’s economic security, but social and national security as well. She hopes that opposition parties will join the DPP in signing a letter of agreement not to repeal the bill, allowing it to be streamlined through the debate and approval steps. In an interview, Wu said that she has already received the consent of KMT Deputy Secretary-General Wang Hung-wei (王鴻薇), and hopes the TPP will join as well.
KMT Legislator Chen Yu-jen (陳玉珍) said that the KMT will, of course, support industrial assistance, but accused the DPP of smuggling in other special budgets. Pointing to the Taipower subsidy and the NT$150 billion (roughly US$4.9 billion) assigned to national security, she said other national resilience items shouldn’t be allowed to pass through in a bill disguised as “industrial support”.
Wu defended the Taipower subsidy and national defense allotment, saying that the bill is designed to alleviate both the short- and long-term needs of Taiwan’s economy. All parties will have the opportunity to make suggestions on budget allocation when reviewing the special budget bill in the future.