Taiwan's Legislative Yuan halts overseas trip subsidies for 'friendship associations'

Taiwan's Legislative Yuan has announced it will cease funding for "Congressional Friendship Associations" to travel abroad, effective immediately. This decision stems from a 30% cut to the overall budget for overseas travel in the 2026 fiscal year.

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The general cut includes the Legislative Yuan itself, proving it is for economizing government spending and not deliberately reducing the administrative branch's budget.

Legislator Lee Yen-hsiu of the Kuomintang party stated that the across-the-board reduction includes the Legislative Yuan's own travel expenses. She emphasized this move is intended to conserve government spending rather than specifically target the administrative branch's budget.

According to Lee, there are currently 114 "Congressional Friendship Associations" that organize overseas trips for parliamentary diplomacy and can apply for subsidies. She noted that the general cut to overseas travel funds for central government agencies and their affiliates, including the Legislative Yuan, demonstrates that the budget reduction is from the perspective of economizing national government expenditures.

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The general cut in overseas travel funds was a consensus version reached by the three party caucuses, and even DPP caucus whip Tsai Chi-chang signed off on it. I believe all agencies can adapt accordingly.

Ko Wen-je's Taiwan People's Party caucus whip, Chen Ching-lung, commented that general budget cuts are common and this specific reduction in overseas travel funds was a consensus reached by the three major parties. He believes all agencies can adapt accordingly. Legislator Hung Yu-hsiang added that while congressional diplomacy is necessary for Taiwan to gain international support and deepen partnerships, not all expenses can be unlimited. Public funds come from taxpayers, so the Legislative Yuan should lead by example, prioritizing trips based on diplomatic effectiveness, exchange level, and actual results.

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Congressional diplomacy is indeed necessary, and the work of legislators seeking international support and deepening democratic partnerships should continue. However, just because congressional diplomacy is important does not mean every expenditure can be unlimited.

Hung stressed that while trips with clear diplomatic benefits and missions are supported, unnecessary, repetitive, or personally convenient travel should be self-funded or avoided. He criticized some government officials for their aimless travel and falsified reports, using national security as a shield, as the true reason for the budget cuts. He argued that the reduction in the Legislative Yuan's congressional diplomacy budget is an unintended consequence, and the real culprits are the ruling party officials' misuse of public funds.

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Public funds come from taxpayers. The Legislative Yuan should lead by example and make choices within limited budgets, prioritizing based on diplomatic effectiveness, exchange level, and actual results.