Taiwan Candidates Clash Over Drone Budget, Accusations Fly

A heated exchange has erupted between New Taipei City mayoral candidates Ko Chih-en of the KMT and Lai Jui-lung of the DPP concerning a 63.4 billion New Taiwan dollar drone budget. The controversy centers on who deserves credit for the budget's passage and whether it was initially obstructed for political gain.

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The arsonist pretending to be a firefighter.

Ko Chih-en asserts her consistent support for Taiwan's drone industry, stating that rumors of her opposition are baseless. She argues that passing the budget proves that those who distorted "budget oversight" into "blocking industry" were mistaken. Ko emphasizes the need to genuinely develop the drone industry in Kaohsiung, rather than allowing it to become a political tool for the DPP's election campaigns.

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Supporting the industry and overseeing the budget have never been mutually exclusive.

Lai Jui-lung's campaign office countered by citing public records, accusing Ko and the KMT of first attempting to cut and then freeze the budget before withdrawing their proposal under public pressure. Lai characterized this as "the arsonist pretending to be a firefighter," aiming to deceive the public and underestimate Kaohsiung residents' intelligence. The office detailed that the KMT initially proposed deleting the executive yuan's approved six-year, 44.2 billion NT dollar "Integrated Plan for the Development of Unmanned Vehicle Industry," later changing it to a "complete freeze" before withdrawing it prior to the final vote.

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The KMT and white (parties) blocking the budget for no reason, just to block it, and then releasing it based on their mood, isn't this messing with Taiwan?

The DPP campaign further criticized Ko's statements, pointing to perceived contradictions between her words and actions, including past controversies regarding fiscal allocation and her stance on freezing the premier's salary. They accused her of packaging the drone budget as something she "never opposed," suggesting a pattern of misleading citizens for electoral benefit. The DPP stressed that Ko's 63.4 billion NT dollar proposal is distinct from the 210 billion NT dollar special regulation for defense-related unmanned vehicle procurement, highlighting that the latter, crucial for national defense, has yet to be legislated. The campaign concluded by stating that voters will clearly see whether Ko prioritizes national security and Kaohsiung's interests or adheres to the party's directives.

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Ko Chih-en's recent public statements have repeatedly contradicted her actual actions.