KMT Backer Yang Chien-kang Urges Arms Procurement Oversight Amid Defense Budget Concerns
Yang Chien-kang, a financial backer of Taiwan's Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), urged KMT lawmakers to support arms procurement while ensuring balanced national development. Yang highlighted the administration's proposed NT$1.25 trillion (US$39.58 billion) military procurement budget, projecting maintenance costs to reach NT$2.5 trillion to NT$3 trillion, with annual expenses of NT$300 billion.
He indicated that the total defense budget could amount to NT$1.4 trillion, raising concerns about its impact on economic development and public welfare. Yang emphasized the need for the KMT to be firm in overseeing the government's budget and safeguarding national interests.
He was supported by KMT officials who clarified that his aim is not to block military procurement but to promote a more balanced development approach. In contrast, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) criticized Yang's statements as misinformation that could politicize national defense.
