TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The KMT legislative caucus filed a lawsuit Monday against Presidential Office Deputy Secretary-General Xavier Chang (張惇涵), accusing him of slander and spreading false information related to cuts in Taiwan’s 2025 budget.
Chang appeared on a political talk show Wednesday and criticized the KMT for slashing the overseas travel budget and subsidies for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), per SETN. He said the cuts would harm Taiwan, particularly as the country prepares for potential economic impacts from US tariffs under US President Donald Trump.
The remarks sparked a political back-and-forth, with the KMT alleging Chang misled the public to support the DPP's ongoing recall campaign, per UDN. DPP Secretary-General Wu Szu-yao (吳思瑤) defended Chang's comments, per CNA.
Wu noted that roughly 60% of the government’s overseas travel budget had either been cut or frozen, adding that the opposition missed the chance to reverse damaging budget reductions. Chang specifically pointed to cuts proposed by KMT Legislators Lin Szu-ming (林思銘) and Chen Yu-jen (陳玉珍), slashing NT$1 billion (US$30.8 million) in SME subsidies, and the elimination of the overseas travel budget.
KMT Legislator Wang Hung-wei (王鴻薇) called the idea that a 15% cut to the Cabinet’s travel budget would halt trade talks with the US “absurd”, per UDN. Chen said she had withdrawn her proposed cuts after consulting with relevant agencies.
Chang responded by labeling Chen’s proposals as “attempted cuts,” prompting further criticism from KMT lawmakers, per CNA. KMT legislators accused him of using outdated information to construct a misleading narrative.
KMT Legislator Lo Chih-chiang (羅智強) went further, claiming Chang was intentionally spreading misinformation to support the DPP’s political agenda. He warned the public against sharing Chang’s remarks.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) acknowledged the strain caused by the travel budget cuts but said the diplomatic corps could still manage trade negotiations with the US, per Newtalk. Agriculture Minister Chen Junne-jih (陳駿季) denied any link between budget cuts and potential agricultural fallout from Trump’s tariffs but pledged to seek special budget support to mitigate possible effects, per FTV.
