Taiwan's political parties have entered a cash-handout race ahead of local elections, with the main opposition proposing 20,000 New Taiwan dollars (about 830,000 won) per person and the ruling party half that amount, as both court voters.
The opposition Kuomintang said at a Central Standing Committee meeting on the 14th that it would push an "AI bonus" special bill through the Legislative Yuan before local elections on Nov. 28, according to Taiwanese media including the China Times on the 15th.
The payout would be 20,000 New Taiwan dollars (about 830,000 won) per person. The KMT says it would draw on this year's excess tax revenue and is pressing the Executive Yuan not to block the plan on fiscal discipline grounds.
Parties Compete With Cash Ahead of Vote
The ruling Democratic Progressive Party is not standing still. President Lai Ching-te urged his party's Central Standing Committee the previous day to move quickly on a bill providing 10,000 New Taiwan dollars (about 410,000 won) per person.
Taiwan's Ministry of Finance submitted a report on the AI bonus payment plan to the Executive Yuan on the 8th. Some expect cash could be distributed before the Lunar New Year holiday if the central government's 2027 budget passes before Jan. 5.
With the opposition's proposed amount double that of the ruling party, the dispute over the size and timing of any payment is unlikely to subside soon.
Even if the KMT pushes the 20,000-dollar plan through the opposition-controlled Legislative Yuan, Premier Cho Jung-tai could refuse to sign it. In that case, the opposition is expected to highlight the DPP's failure to heed public demands in an effort to build favorable opinion ahead of the local vote.
The local elections are seen as a prelude to the 2028 presidential race. Cash payment policies have been tied to elections in the past as well.
Taiwan has distributed consumer vouchers or cash five times, starting with 3,600 New Taiwan dollars in vouchers after the 2008 financial crisis, twice during the COVID-19 pandemic, 6,000 New Taiwan dollars in stimulus cash in 2023 and 10,000 New Taiwan dollars in 2025 to cushion the impact of U.S. reciprocal tariffs. This would be the sixth round under discussion.