The government will freeze budget for this year’s event unless China military discontinues its intrusion of Taiwanese airspace.


Following six days of inter-party negotiations, Taiwan made the decision on Monday to budget about US$46,903 for the annual event, on one condition.

The condition put forth by the Democratic Progressive Party caucus was that the budget should be frozen if the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) continues to send aircraft and vessels to areas around Taiwan prior to the event’s opening.

Taipei city councilors from the DPP and their Social Democratic Party counterpart, Councilor Miao Po-ya, initially said that the budget for twin-city forum should be scrapped entirely, but Chinese Nationalist Party and New Party councilors opposed the idea.

All parties reached a consensus and agreed to attach the condition.

KMT Taipei City Councilor Wang Hsin-yi stated that the party’s caucus accepted the proposal with the condition, as the PLA’s patrols near Taiwan have caused resentment.

New Party convener Pan Hwai-tzong argued that the twin-city forum should be held if cross-strait relations are good at the time, and canceled if they are not.