TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's head of government signaled willingness to consider a sweeping cash distribution proposal from the opposition party as the island braces for potential economic fallout from American trade barriers. Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰), who leads Taiwan's cabinet, opened the door Friday for parliamentary debate on the Kuomintang's (KMT, 國民黨) ambitious relief measure that would allocate NT$200 billion (approximately US$6.1 billion) to provide direct payments of NT$10,000 (about US$305) to each Taiwanese citizen.
The proposal comes from the main opposition party's highest ranks, with KMT Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) presenting a four-pronged approach to shield Taiwan's economy from looming American trade barriers. During a special session at the Legislative Yuan (立法院), Taiwan's parliament, legislators summoned Premier Cho to detail the administration's strategy for addressing potential U.S. tariff increases. The premier stressed that any relief measures must balance immediate public assistance against long-term fiscal stability, suggesting careful evaluation of the opposition's expansive spending proposal.
Taiwan has already begun mobilizing its diplomatic and economic resources in response to the tariff threat. President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) has appointed Vice Premier Cheng Li-chun (鄭麗君) to spearhead a specialized team for negotiating reciprocal tariff arrangements with American counterparts. Though present at the parliamentary session, Cheng declined to address reporters' questions. Taiwan's cabinet, known as the Executive Yuan (行政院), has meanwhile approved an NT$88 billion (US$2.68 billion) industrial support package just one day earlier, focusing on strengthening export financing guarantees and expanding credit access for vulnerable small and medium-sized businesses. ★