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🇹🇼 Taiwan /Economy & Trade

Taiwan Premier rejects doubling cash handout, mayor calls for legalization

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified New plan
  • Taiwan's Premier Cho Jung-tai rejected a proposal to increase a universal cash handout from NT$10,000 to NT$20,000.
  • Cho argued that the increase would divert funds from essential social welfare programs.
  • Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen countered that the cash handout is a "tax return" to the public and should be legalized, not decided by the president.

Premier Cho Jung-tai firmly rejected calls to double the planned universal cash handout to NT$20,000, stating it is "absolutely not possible." He explained that such an increase would significantly reduce funding for crucial social welfare initiatives, including six major subsidies and child-rearing allowances.

Absolutely not possible.

— Cho Jung-taiPremier Cho Jung-tai's direct response to the proposal of doubling the universal cash handout.

The government recently approved a central government budget allocating NT$235.7 billion for a NT$10,000 cash handout. Opposition parties have pushed for the higher amount, but Cho emphasized that the current plan adheres to reasonable fiscal discipline.

Responding to the premier's stance, Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen argued that the cash handout represents a "tax return" to the public, funded by the nation's substantial tax surpluses. She asserted that the distribution of these funds should be legalized and institutionalized, rather than being subject to the president's discretion. "It's not up to the president to decide, nor is it the president's private money," Lu stated during a press conference.

It's not up to the president to decide, nor is it the president's private money.

— Lu Shiow-yenTaichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen criticized the notion that the president has unilateral control over the cash handout funds.

Lu stressed that the government's ability to issue cash handouts stems from the contributions of its citizens and significant tax overcollections. She believes this economic dividend should be shared universally and that the amount should be determined through established legal frameworks, reflecting sound fiscal management.

The distribution of these funds should be legalized and institutionalized.

— Lu Shiow-yenMayor Lu Shiow-yen advocated for a legal framework to govern the universal cash handout.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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