Taiwan’s opposition lawmakers on Tuesday blocked a proposed NT$1.25 trillion (US$40 billion) special defence budget from being placed on the agenda for review this week.
The suspension prompted angry protests from the ruling independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), injecting fresh uncertainty into Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te’s ambitious military modernisation plan.
The legislature’s procedure committee voted down Lai’s government’s request to schedule the bill for a plenary session on Friday after the main opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), and the smaller Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) joined forces to suspend its inclusion.
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The move means the eight-year spending package – approved by the cabinet last week after initial consultations with the United States – cannot yet be forwarded to the relevant committees for review.
DPP lawmakers accused the opposition of helping Beijing by blocking a major air-defence investment at a time of mounting pressure from mainland China.
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They surrounded the podium and shouted: “Taiwan needs security, not another Wu Sangui!”