TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's head of government forcefully rejected opposition calls for universal cash handouts on Thursday (April 24), emphasizing long-term security concerns over short-term political popularity. Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰), who leads Taiwan's cabinet, warned against depleting fiscal reserves amid mounting regional tensions, characterizing universal cash distributions as an imprudent response to the island's complex challenges spanning diplomatic isolation, military threats, and economic pressures.
The premier's stance directly counters legislative initiatives from Taiwan's two main opposition parties, the Kuomintang (KMT, 國民黨), the island's traditional conservative party, and the newer centrist Taiwan People's Party (TPP, 民眾黨). Both political groups have advocated for mandatory cash payouts to all citizens after the Ministry of Finance (MOF, 財政部), Taiwan's treasury department, revealed an unprecedented budget surplus of NT$528.3 billion (US$16.2 billion) from tax collections that substantially exceeded projections in the previous fiscal year.
While recognizing the popular appeal of immediate financial windfalls, the premier advocated for strategic fiscal planning aligned with Taiwan's long-term security imperatives. Cho noted that existing government programs already provide targeted assistance to vulnerable populations, arguing that supplementing these efforts with an additional NT$5,000 (US$154) for those currently receiving no support would more efficiently deploy resources than distributing NT$10,000 (US$307) universally. The premier specifically cited escalating pressure from the Chinese Communist Party across the Taiwan Strait as a compelling rationale for maintaining robust fiscal reserves to strengthen national resilience rather than depleting them for short-term political gain.
Cho further rejected proposals that would establish automatic statutory mechanisms for distributing future budget surpluses. The premier instead advocated for maintaining governmental discretion to channel unexpected fiscal windfalls toward Taiwan's most pressing needs, which currently include strengthening defense capabilities, addressing demographic challenges, and investing in strategic industries. This approach, he suggested, would better safeguard Taiwan's sovereignty and economic vitality in an increasingly uncertain geopolitical environment. ★
