Taiwan legislator proposes cutting China policy body's media funds; official responds

A contentious proposal by a legislator to slash media outreach funds for Taiwan's top China-policy body has sparked a public exchange between ruling and opposition party officials. Weng Hsiao-ling, a legislator from the Kuomintang (KMT) party, publicly declared her intention to eliminate NT$12.95 million (approximately $400,000 USD) allocated for media outreach by the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC).

Weng directly challenged the effectiveness of the MAC's spending, asserting in a social media post that her own verbal arguments were more potent than any commissioned media campaign. She specifically targeted the council's budget, suggesting the funds were wasteful. Her remarks were quickly amplified by her political allies.

Responding to Weng's sharp criticism, MAC Deputy Minister Liang Wen-chieh personally reposted Weng's statement on Threads, a social media platform. Liang's reply, though brief, was pointed, indicating a strong disagreement with Weng's assessment and proposal. The exchange highlights ongoing political debates in Taiwan regarding cross-Strait policy and government spending priorities.