KMT calls on Lai to respect oversight amid pledge for cross-party cooperation

Taipei, Jan. 1 (CNA) Taiwan's main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) on Thursday urged President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) and his ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to show respect for legislative oversight, responding to Lai's call for cross-party cooperation in the new year.

In his New Year address, Lai said the political gridlock seen in 2025, during which the opposition-controlled Legislative Yuan blocked many government-proposed bills, must not continue into 2026.

"Projects that are crucial for the nation to endure and develop must no longer be stalled by obstruction," Lai said, pledging to take action to promote cooperation between the ruling and opposition parties.

In response, KMT spokeswoman Chiang I-chen (江怡臻) said in a statement that Lai's speech "failed to address any of the opposition party's demands," and instead resorted to "emotional blackmail."

While Lai listed numerous achievements from the past year, Chiang said, issues the public cares most about -- including high housing prices, low wages, public safety and energy stability -- were not addressed.

Chiang added that although Lai has repeatedly called for cooperation between the ruling and opposition parties in the name of national unity, he should first respect legislative oversight instead of oversimplifying differing opinions as "boycotts or confrontations."

National defense is important, she said, but so is funding for social welfare, adding that every budget proposal must be subject to strict scrutiny.

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One major source of the ongoing stalemate, Chiang said, is the ruling and opposition parties' differing views on a proposed bill authorizing a special defense budget of NT$1.25 trillion (US$39.8 billion).

The opposition has asked Lai to answer questions in the Legislature regarding details of the proposal.

Lai, however, has said he is willing to deliver a state-of-the-nation address to lawmakers but will not submit to questioning, arguing that doing so would violate the Constitution.