President Lai Announces NT$10,000 Handout, Opposition Leader Huang Kuo-chang Slams 'Double Standards'

President Lai Ching-te announced on Monday a plan to distribute NT$10,000 to every citizen, funded by a budget increase of NT$235.7 billion. The president stated the distribution would be balanced with revenue and involve no actual debt increase.

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Lai Ching-te's nth 'green energy, you can't'

However, the decision immediately sparked outrage from Taiwan People's Party Chairman Huang Kuo-chang. He lambasted the move on Facebook, calling it "Lai Ching-te's nth 'green energy, you can't'" and accusing the president of hypocrisy. Huang recalled that the opposition had previously proposed a similar NT$10,000 cash handout, which was then vehemently opposed by the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

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you don't need NT$10,000?

Huang cited President Lai himself questioning the necessity of such a handout last year, asking an audience if they "don't need NT$10,000." He also pointed to Premier Cho Jung-tai's previous criticism that a handout would be unhelpful to the nation, only good for buying refrigerators and remote-controlled airplanes. DPP legislators Wu Si-yao and Shen Po-yang were also quoted as having attacked the idea, with some even likening it to a "communist tactic to first impoverish Taiwan, then unify it."

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only good for buying refrigerators and remote-controlled airplanes

"Now Lai Ching-te announces next year's NT$10,000 handout, proving that only he can issue money," Huang stated, questioning if this was a "money pit" and a "communist tactic." He concluded by expressing his exasperation at the "double standards" of the DPP.

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communist tactic to first impoverish Taiwan, then unify it