TAIPEI (TVBS News) — A prominent legislator from Taiwan's ruling party has criticized the opposition's approach to social welfare funding while questioning the wisdom of a recent cash handout program. Wu Pei-yi (吳沛憶), a legislator from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP, 民進黨), Taiwan's governing party, challenged on Tuesday (July 15) the Kuomintang's (KMT, 國民黨) earlier decisions to reduce social welfare allocations during budget deliberations last year. Wu suggested the NT$235 billion (approximately US$8 billion) earmarked for direct cash payments could be more effectively invested in sustainable social programs like elder care services and affordable housing initiatives.
Taiwan's parliament, the Legislative Yuan (立法院), approved an extraordinary measure last Friday authorizing universal payments of NT$10,000 (approximately US$341) to each citizen. In response, the KMT parliamentary caucus announced its members would donate equivalent amounts to charitable organizations. Wu characterized this gesture as political maneuvering designed to thwart an ongoing recall effort against KMT legislators, contending that such substantial public resources would better serve long-term national development priorities.
The DPP legislator participated in a morning campaign event alongside recall advocates and party colleagues from the Taipei City Council, where she fielded questions from journalists. Wu defended her party's previous cash distribution programs, distinguishing them as targeted economic stimulus measures during the post-pandemic period. She called for her fellow lawmakers to prioritize sustainable development initiatives and pressed for the legislature to resume its proper role in providing measured oversight while strengthening social safety nets for disadvantaged populations. ◼
(At time of reporting, US$1 equals approximately NT$29.339).
