Opposition lawmakers have told Taiwan's Cabinet to rework its spending plan for 2025. The impasse puts at risk salary increases for government workers and the country's plan to build its own submarines.
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00:00This is the second time opposition lawmakers have kicked back the budget to the cabinet for reworking.
00:06If it doesn't get approved, the government would still have money to function next year,
00:11but new policies and projects would not be funded.
00:15That would mean no salary increases for teachers, civil servants or military personnel,
00:21and it could affect the government's plan to build its own submarines to help it resist a Chinese invasion.
00:28Opposition lawmakers are blocking the budget largely on procedural grounds.
00:33They say funds that should be in there are not.
00:36But some analysts also see party politics at work.
00:39With the opposition questioning the US$3 billion,
00:43the government is pouring into the state-owned and loss-making energy company.
00:48Such support is not a new thing.
00:51Past governments have also supported that kind of policy.
00:55The budget impasse is another example of the difficulties facing President Lai Ching-teh's government,
01:02which has to get its policies past an opposition-dominated legislature.
01:08Joseph Wu and Louise Watt in Taipei for Taiwan Plus.