version

The DPP is continuing to urge the legislature to pass the executive yuan's
version of a special defense budget...

with a price tag coming in at 1.25 trillion NT.

That's as legislative party caucuses have again failed to reach a consensus
on the different proposals for a special defense bill.

The DPP caucus says today that polls conducted by the KMT show 70% support
for the DPP's 1.25 trillion NT version.

Presidential Office Spokespeson Karen Kuo added that she hoped the bill could
be passed ahead of an expected meeting between the Chinese and US leaders
scheduled for next week.

Meanwhile in the blue camp, Taichung mayor Lu Xiu yan appears to be
spearheading the intra-KMT movement to secure more funding than the KMT's
official "380 million NT N" proposal.

Lu says, there should be 800 to 900 millon NT allotted to that special
defense budget, which she said should be passed as quickly as possible.

She added that the government should prioritize arms procurement in a special
budget, while suggesting that commercial procurement and contract
manufacturing be included in next year's central government budget.

(AH)