Cho said the CCP ‘will be very pleased’ if the budget cuts are approved.
Taiwanese Premier Cho Jung-tai urged opposition parties on Jan. 20 to withdraw their proposed budget cuts, citing their detrimental effects on national security and essential governmental functions.
Taiwan’s Cabinet previously approved a budget proposal for fiscal year 2025, which included NT$3.13 trillion ($95.5 billion) in expenditure and a projected revenue of NT$3.15 trillion ($96 billion), which will lead to a surplus of NT$20.9 billion ($637 million), according to local reports.
However, two opposition parties—the Kuomintang and the Taiwan People’s Party—used their legislative majority on Jan. 17 to propose a NT$93.98 billion ($2.86 billion) cut from the government’s general budget.
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te won the presidential election last year, but his Democratic Progressive Party failed to secure a parliamentary majority, resulting in the opposition holding the most seats and gaining control over legislative matters.
Cho told reporters on Jan. 20 that the opposition’s proposed budget cuts would harm national security and paralyze certain governmental operations.
“Please withdraw all proposals that would paralyze the government and impact national security,” he said.
He also said that passing the proposals would lead to “administrative departments finding it hard to operate, and even basic tasks will be hard to carry out.”
Cho said the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in China, which views Taiwan as part of its territory and has never renounced the use of force to take control of the island, “will be very pleased” if the budget cuts are approved.
The budget cuts would eliminate special spending for agencies under the Mainland Affairs Council, the Ministry of Digital Affairs, the National Communications Commission, the Ministry of Labor, and the Control Yuan, Focus Taiwan reported.
Opposition parties have also proposed cutting NT$100 billion ($3 billion) in subsidies for the state-owned energy company, the news outlet reported. Lawmakers are expected to vote on the 2025 budget on Jan. 21.
Cabinet spokesperson Michelle Lee said the proposed budget cuts would hinder the self-ruling island’s ability to collaborate with other countries in various areas, such as technology, economics, and human rights protection. Lee said the executive branch will consider seeking a resolution under the law if necessary, according to the news outlet.
In recent years, the CCP has employed various gray zone tactics to pressure Taiwan, including holding large-scale military drills, sending fighter jets and warships near the island, and enticing Taiwan’s allies to switch their diplomatic recognition to the Chinese regime.
Taiwan’s National Security Bureau stated on Jan. 5 that the island had experienced a significant increase in cyberattacks against its government network in 2024, with incidents more than doubling to an average of 2.4 million daily. Most of the attacks were attributed to Chinese regime cyberforces, according to the bureau.
Reuters and Dorothy Li contributed to this report.