TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan opposition leader Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) spent 58 hours on a round-trip to Washington to demand transparency on a US$40 billion defense budget (NT$1.25 trillion) — then returned Wednesday (Jan. 14), refusing to disclose what U.S. officials told him. The contradiction highlights Taiwan's deepening political stalemate: the Taiwan People's Party (台灣民眾黨) chairman now vows to write his own version of the special military spending bill after learning that a "high proportion" likely involves non-U.S. procurement, yet refuses to explain what he discovered or from whom. The opposition-controlled legislature, Taiwan's parliament, has blocked the Executive Yuan's (行政院), Taiwan's cabinet, proposal eight times since November.
The TPP chairman told reporters his opposition to the administration's bill has only strengthened following his trip. "After coming back from the U.S., my opposition is only stronger," he said. Taiwan needs robust defense, but money must be "spent wisely, not becoming fat meat in the eyes of arms dealers and brokers," he added. The timing was critical: Taiwan's legislature faces a Feb. 1 deadline when Huang resigns under party term limits, and the current session — extended at TPP's request — ends shortly after.
"A high proportion of the NT$1.25 trillion is not related to U.S. military purchases," Huang said — a revelation that reframes the legislative fight as being about more than American arms sales. "What else is involved? Honestly, I don't know. Maybe only Lai Ching-te (賴清德) knows," he added, referring to Taiwan's president. The admission that even opposition leaders with U.S. access lack basic budget details underscores the information vacuum surrounding Taiwan's largest-ever defense procurement.
Huang said his delegation met with five U.S. government departments during Monday's meetings, including the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, State Department, American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) headquarters, and Department of Defense. He declined to disclose conversation details, citing an AIT request upon his return and "mutual trust and respect" with U.S. officials — the same transparency he has demanded from the Lai administration regarding the defense budget.
"The Taiwan People's Party will propose its own version," Huang said, adding the party will finalize details after the Ministry of National Defense briefs the legislature's Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee in closed session next week. He emphasized TPP does not require U.S. approval for legislative proposals, though he acknowledged both sides have policy positions.
The Executive Yuan passed the "Special Statute for Strengthening Defense Resilience and Asymmetric Warfare Capabilities Procurement" (強化防衛韌性及不對稱戰力計畫採購特別條例) on Nov. 27, 2025. Huang has criticized the seven-article bill as providing insufficient detail. "Seven articles requesting NT$1.25 trillion. Let me speak plainly. I oppose it," he said, noting his party received only "two A4 pages" without procurement specifics or delivery schedules.
On tariffs, Huang said negotiations are essentially complete, with formal announcement expected within weeks. "The tariff negotiations are basically settled, with all the conditions in place. Yesterday at noon, I left the U.S. Trade Representative's office. Then, after 2 p.m., the New York Times came out with the story," he said. He declined to confirm media reports suggesting 15% tariffs and expanded investment in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSMC, 台積電), saying the administration should make the announcements. "Of course, it won't only be the expanded investment amounts you see in the newspapers. Of course, there will be other things," he added.
What remains unknown is whether Huang's alternative will reveal the non-U.S. procurement details he says the Lai administration is hiding, or whether it will simply shift which information gets withheld and by whom. The answer may come after next week's classified defense briefing — or it may not, given that even Huang's supposedly transparent alternative still awaits the finalization of secret testimony. Huang, who self-funded the trip through TPP, departed on Sunday evening after a campaign rally in New Taipei City's Sanchong District (三重區) for his 2026 mayoral bid, arriving in Washington early Monday and returning on Wednesday morning (Taiwan time). ◼ (At time of reporting, US$1 equals approximately NT$31.6)
