Archive · 19 Dec 2025
Taiwan Faces Political Deadlock Over Spending Law
Taiwan is in a big argument between the president and the opposition parties in parliament.
The opposition wants to change a law about how local governments spend money, but the president says it's not a good idea and wasn't discussed properly.
The opposition wants to remove the president and the premier, but they don't have enough votes to do that easily.
There's also a bigger problem with China, which wants to control Taiwan.
The next big elections are not until 2026 and 2028, but some people want new elections sooner.
Both sides are blaming each other for not following the rules, and it's making it hard to get anything done.
Taiwan's opposition-controlled parliament wants to enact amendments to a local government spending law, but the government refuses, calling it fiscally unsound.
The opposition lacks the votes to impeach President Lai Ching-te but could pass a no-confidence vote in Premier Cho Jung-tai, potentially leading to new elections.
The political deadlock is happening against a backdrop of Chinese military and political pressure on Taiwan.
The opposition has blocked the government's $40 billion supplementary defence budget from being discussed in parliament.
The next major elections in Taiwan are scheduled for November 2026 and early 2028.
- Who
- President Lai Ching-te and the opposition-controlled parliament in Taiwan
- What
- Political deadlock over the government's refusal to enact amendments to a local government spending law
- When
- Current deadlock; next elections in November 2026 and early 2028
- Where
- Taiwan
- Why
- Disagreement over the fiscal soundness and consultation process of the spending law amendments
- President
- Lai Ching-te
- President's Party
- Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)
- Opposition Parties
- Kuomintang (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party
- Premier
- Cho Jung-tai
- Current Issue
- Amendments to a local government spending law
- Next Elections
- November 2026 (local) and early 2028 (presidential and parliamentary)