Taiwan¡¯s lawmakers are due to resume talks on a massive defense bill aimed at both defending against China and placating U.S. President Donald Trump, with the opposition emboldened by a public show of support from Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The legislature issued a notice of consultation for parties to meet at 3 p.m., Taipei time, on Wednesday to discuss the general budget and a draft special defense bill, both of which are stalled. It remains possible that talks will ¡ª again ¡ª be delayed.
President Lai Ching-te¡¯s ruling Democratic Progressive Party is pushing a record 1.25 trillion New Taiwan dollar?($40 billion), eight-year special defense budget to help fund a planned T-Dome air-defense system. The Beijing-friendly Kuomintang countered with just a NT$380 billion bill and piecemeal increments, and may be unwilling to compromise after KMT Chairperson Cheng Li-wun won Xi¡¯s endorsement of her calls for cross-strait dialogue and an offer of several economic incentives.
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