Taiwan to Distribute NT$10,000 Cash Handout, Citing Population Decline for Budget Cut

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te announced a plan to distribute NT$10,000 in cash to citizens next year, framing it as a way to share "AI dividends" with the public. The initiative, budgeted at NT$235.7 billion, is set to be included in the central government's budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

This year's total budget is slightly lower than the NT$236 billion allocated for a similar NT$10,000 handout last year. Officials attribute this NT$300 million decrease to a shrinking population. According to Ministry of the Interior statistics from June, Taiwan's population stood at 23.24 million, a decrease of over 100,000 people compared to the same month last year.

While eligibility criteria for next year's handout are yet to be finalized, last year's program included resident citizens, non-resident citizens with residency permits, foreigners with permanent residency, foreign or Hong Kong/Macau spouses of Taiwanese citizens with residency permits, and overseas-based government employees and their families with Taiwanese citizenship. The budget breakdown for the upcoming handout includes NT$235.35 billion for cash distribution and NT$367 million for administrative expenses, covering transaction fees, ATM services, and promotional activities.