The opposition coalition in Taiwan's legislature has taken an axe to the government’s 2025 budget, slashing US$6 billion in the biggest spending cut in the country’s history.
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00:00Major cuts to Taiwan's 2025 budget, a total of over 6 billion U.S. dollars cut, the most
00:07in history, made by the opposition Kuomintang and Taiwan People's Party, who have a majority
00:12in the legislature but don't control the executive branch.
00:15Among the cuts, the foreign ministry's entire media and policy promotion budget was slashed,
00:20and 50 percent of its operating budget was frozen.
00:23The Mainland Affairs Council, overseeing relations with China, had its operating budget also
00:27cut by 30 percent, and the budget for Taiwan's public television service, which includes
00:31Taiwan Plus, was cut by over 6 million U.S. dollars.
00:35Taiwan's premier has denounced the cuts, arguing the TPP and KMT are putting Taiwan in danger.
00:57Lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party have also expressed concern, with some
01:08deliberations on budget items devolving into shouting and name-calling, reflecting deep
01:12partisan divisions.
01:29But in response, KMT and TPP legislators insist they have simply eliminated wasteful spending,
01:34and have suggested they were flexible with their cuts.
01:43Of particular interest to many are cuts to the state-run power company.
01:48Opposition parties also eliminated a proposed $3 billion subsidy for Taiwan Power Company,
01:53which could affect electricity prices and subsidies.
01:56The company is in debt and says the cuts may mean they may not be able to upgrade power
02:00equipment and could also force it to raise prices.
02:03In Taipei, people had mixed opinions about the decision.
02:33With a third and final reading of the budget concluded, and no negotiation left, many government
02:50bodies will now have to get to grips with reductions in their budget that they had been
02:53fighting to prevent.
02:55Patrick Chen and Cadence Caronta for Taiwan Plus.