Taiwan opposition proposes slashing Control Yuan budget by over NT$270 million

Opposition lawmakers in Taiwan are pushing to drastically slash the budget of the Control Yuan, the nation's top watchdog agency, by more than NT$270 million. This significant proposed cut comes amidst a prolonged delay in the review of the central government's overall budget, which has been pending for over 300 days.

The proposal, put forth by legislators from the Kuomintang (KMT) and Taiwan People's Party (TPP), seeks to eliminate substantial portions of the Control Yuan's NT$1.15 billion annual budget. While the budget initially saw a minor reduction of NT$7 million in preliminary reviews, these new proposals aim for a much deeper cut, alongside freezing NT$32.8 million in funds. The Control Yuan's Secretary-General, Huang Shih-cho, has urged the Legislative Yuan to "reconsider" these drastic measures, warning they could cripple the agency's operations.

Control Yuan member Chao Yung-ching voiced deep regret over the proposed cuts, emphasizing the agency's constitutional role in a five-branch government system. He argued that if the Legislative Yuan insists on blocking personnel appointments and budgets, it could lead to an imbalance of power, with the legislature becoming overly dominant. This, he warned, would undermine the people's right to seek redress and relief, echoing past instances where the Control Yuan was rendered ineffective due to political obstruction.

Chao further elaborated that rejecting nominations for Control Yuan members could result in a situation where the agency exists in name only, unable to impeach or correct administrative departments at both central and local levels. This would severely impact citizens' avenues for recourse. He also highlighted that essential integrity-related functions, such as the financial disclosure of public officials and oversight of political donations and conflicts of interest, would be left unaddressed. Chao stressed that the Control Yuan operates independently and is not merely a "reward institution" or "useless body," defending its value in upholding checks and balances.