Taiwan Lawmakers Clash Over 12-Fold Budget Hike for US Defense Program

A significant debate has erupted in Taiwan's legislature over a proposed twelvefold increase in the budget for a joint defense planning program with the United States. Lawmakers are questioning whether the program's strategic value justifies the substantial rise in funding.

The program in question is the Joint Force Design (JFD), formally known as the Taiwan-US Defense Department Cooperative Assessment Project. This bilateral mechanism is designed to assess Taiwan's military requirements, operational concepts, and capability gaps. The findings from the JFD directly influence Taiwan's force planning, military exercises, weapons procurement priorities, and the allocation of US security assistance.

Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense plans to allocate NT$471.2 million (US$14.9 million) to the JFD program between 2026 and 2028. A substantial portion, NT$152.5 million, is earmarked for next year alone, marking a dramatic escalation from previous years' funding levels.

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what level of American participation could justify the spending.

During a legislative review on Tuesday, Ma Wen-chun, a member of the main opposition Kuomintang party and co-chair of the legislature's foreign affairs and defense committee, voiced concerns. She specifically questioned what level of American participation would be required to justify such an expenditure.

Conversely, Wellington Koo Li-hsiung, Taiwan's Minister of National Defense, has strongly endorsed the initiative. He described the JFD program as one of the most important projects currently underway between his ministry and the US Department of Defense, highlighting its critical role in bolstering Taiwan's defense capabilities.

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one of the most important projects between his ministry and the US Defence Department.