Civic groups and political parties in the Taiwan region staged protests in Taipei this week, condemning leader Lai Ching-te’s plan to allocate an additional $40 billion for U.S. arms purchases. Demonstrators accused the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities of prioritizing military spending over public welfare and undermining cross-strait stability.
Wu Jung-yuan, chairman of the Labor Party in Taiwan, criticized the DPP’s “separatist agenda,” stating that excessive defense expenditures come at the expense of residents’ livelihoods. “Taiwan people are at a critical moment of awakening and self-rescue. We should safeguard peace and well-being,” he emphasized during the rally.
Huang Te-pei, secretary-general of the Left Party in Taiwan, echoed these sentiments, urging efforts to oppose the budget increase and prioritize dialogue across the Taiwan Strait. Labor Party deputy Secretary-General Hsu Meng-hsiang further accused Lai of misrepresenting the Chinese mainland as a “hostile force” to justify arms deals, calling the narrative “utter nonsense.”
A joint statement from protesters highlighted systemic challenges faced by residents, including stagnant wages and inadequate social services. “We should not be bargaining chips for the DPP authorities and U.S. arms dealers,” it read, demanding a return to policies fostering cross-strait cooperation.
