Brian Hioeby Brian Hioe
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Photo Credit: Cheng Li-wun/Facebook
AFTER A YEAR in which the KMT delayed the budget for 266 days beyond the deadline, with the eventual passage of the budget on August 14th, substantial cuts were still imposed by the KMT.
Indeed, as the Executive Yuan originally put forward the budget for approval on August 31st, 2025, this means that the KMT delayed on the budget for close to one year after it was originally submitted. With the Executive Yuan now having submitted the 2027 budget, it is to be seen if the KMT again attempts to delay on the matter for next year’s budget.
The KMT has framed the budget as not, in fact, leading to substantial cuts. The KMT’s cuts add up to 1.689 percent of the budget. Nevertheless, in reviewing the cuts, they impact many key parts of government functioning.
All media publicity and advertising budgets were slashed by half. As such, sections of government that offer social services may not be able to advertise as widely. At a time in which Taiwan’s defense budget has been in significant focus, this also means that–as with last year–the military will have its ability to conduct recruitment drastically decreased.
Otherwise, special operational expenses were slashed for all sections of government by 60%. Nevertheless, a number of key ministries have their special operational expenses reduced to zero. This includes the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Transportation and Communication, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Labor, Ministry of Digital Affairs, and Ministry of Culture. The National Development Council, National Communications Commission, Mainland Affairs Council, Overseas Community Affairs Council, Ocean Affairs Council, and Ministry of Personnel will also have special operational expenses reduced to zero.
The Ministry of Culture has been a specific target, with its budget slashed by 1 billion NT, and 386 million NT in budget frozen. Public Television Services, as well as Taiwan Plus, which operates under it, have also had funds targeted–21.85 million NT was cut, and 300 million NT was frozen. This continues the KMT’s war on the cultural sector, with the KMT sneering at cultural workers as “beggars” last year when cultural workers warned how Taiwan’s culture industry would be impacted by funding cuts.
The National Communications Commission, too, was hit with a 56% funding cut, impacting its operations at a time when the KMT has already refused to confirm new nominees to it, paralyzing the media regulatory watchdog at a time when Chinese disinformation targeting Taiwan is on the rise.
Other moves seemed aimed at paralyzing the executive branch of government. Budget for administration, news communication, and transitional justice were deleted entirely for the Executive Yuan. President Lai Ching-te had his annual discretionary budget of 30 million NT cut by 1/3rd to 20 million NT, the remainder of which was frozen. Such funding is often used as disaster relief after natural disasters. Premier Cho Jung-tai also saw his salary frozen from September to December.
The KMT motioned to cut Control Yuan’s budget by 295 million NT, as part of the latest in efforts to defund the branch of government. This would include attempting to paralyze the National Human Rights Commission through cutting funding to the Control Yuan as a whole.
A further priority for the KMT seemed to be cutting funding for international exchanges. Foreign training or overseas travel budgets were cut by 70% for the National Development Council, National Communications Commission, Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), Overseas Community Affairs Council, and the Control Yuan. This was cut by 10% for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of National Defense, National Security Council, National Science and Technology Council, National Police Agency, National Fire Agency, Ministry of Sports, National Immigration Agency, and Coast Guard Administration.
When it comes to defense, the KMT did eventually pass defense spending and drone funding. But 11.9 billion NT for further submarines after the Hai Kun have been frozen, subject to testing for the first of Taiwan’s planned submarine fleet. Drone spending was also notably passed as part of the central government’s funding, rather than as a special budget, allowing the KMT to have greater influence over it. But it is possible that the KMT’s eventual passage of defense spending was meant to distract from other cuts.
As with last year, the KMT continues to take a slash-and-burn approach to governance, then. Efforts are made to sabotage social services in the hopes that the public will blame the DPP, resulting in a KMT victory. By comparison, when the KMT attempted to conduct what was the largest set of budget cuts in Taiwanese history last year–attempting to freeze or cut 1/3rd of all government operational expenses–this was around 3% in cuts from the proposed budget.