The Republic of China (Taiwan) Central Government’s Fiscal Year 115 (2026) Budget was finally passed in its third reading on the 14th of August, just in time to meet the end-of-August deadline. President Lai Ching-te expressed hope that the Legislative Yuan could learn from the 351-day delay in the budget approval process for this fiscal year and engage in rational, professional discussions for next year’s central government budget, ensuring timely completion of the review process according to legal deadlines.
The Parliament of the Republic of China engaged in a fierce battle over the budget on the 14th, largely due to the unprecedented 351-day delay in the approval of this fiscal year’s central government budget, marking the longest delay in constitutional history. With the deadline for next year’s budget fast approaching at the end of August, Premier Cho Rong-tai has expressed his anticipation for greater efforts to be made with Legislative Yuan President Han Kuo-yu to prevent a situation where next year’s budget is sent to the parliament while the current year’s budget remains pending, which would set a constitutional precedent.
Premier Cho Rong-tai stated on the 14th that although the final stages of the budget approval process for this fiscal year were delayed, it was ultimately good news for the entire nation. He hoped that the country would move in the right direction and urged the Legislative Yuan to thoroughly review their processes next year to avoid prolonged delays in governmental operations.
On the 14th, the Legislative Yuan passed the Central Government’s Budget for the Fiscal Year 115, including the freeze of Premier Cho Rong-tai’s salary for the months of September to December and a 60% reduction in special fees. However, special fees for 20 government units including the Control Yuan, Judicial Yuan, Executive Yuan, Ministry of the Interior, as well as the special fees for the Minister of Education, were completely removed. President Lai Ching-te took to Facebook on the evening of the 14th to express that the central government budget for this fiscal year, which was submitted to the Legislative Yuan in August of last year, should have been reviewed and finalized by the end of the previous year according to the law. However, it had been continually delayed until now, only completing its third reading.
President Lai Ching-te lamented that despite the review results, there were still many unreasonable deletions and freezes. In addition to a cut of NT$48 billion and significant reductions in policy promotion expenses, there were freezes on the normal operations of government agencies and even on the salaries of top officials.
President Lai Ching-te believed that the Legislative Yuan’s oversight of the government and budget reviews was an important responsibility granted by the constitution. However, budget reviews should return to principles of professionalism, reasonableness, and proportionality, without allowing political differences to interfere with the normal functioning of the country.
He expressed gratitude towards Premier Cho Rong-tai and the executive team for their dedication in managing governmental affairs amidst the prolonged budget review process, rapid changes in international political and economic situations, and the various needs of domestic livelihoods, industries, infrastructure, and national defense. Maintaining stability in government operations in times of chaos is a responsibility to the people and a principle that the executive team has consistently upheld.
“The Central Government’s Budget for the Fiscal Year 116 is set to pass through the Executive Yuan on the 20th. The budget for the next fiscal year will further allocate the fruits of economic growth towards the people and invest in the country’s future, including initiatives such as expanding subsidies for children aged 0-18, enhancing support for childbirth, childcare, and parenting; continuous increase in investment in technology innovation and public infrastructure to facilitate industrial upgrading; simultaneous reinforcement of national defense preparation to enhance Taiwan’s resilience and strength in facing international dynamics,” stated President Lai Ching-te.
President Lai Ching-te emphasized that these budgets are crucial to every family’s livelihood and the future competitiveness and security of Taiwan. He hoped that the Legislative Yuan would learn from the 351-day delay in this year’s budget process and engage in rational, professional discussions for next year’s central government budget, ensuring timely completion of the review process according to legal deadlines.
He expressed the importance of subjecting every budget to thorough and reasonable oversight to ensure that the care needed by the people and the construction required by the country can be advanced as scheduled. The government will continue to follow a steady course of governance, perform every task diligently, and steer the nation steadily forward.