[War] Republic of China (Taiwan): "Fiscal Budget"

[Alan Tang]

“Fiscal Budget”
President Tang Wai Kiat
Republic of China (Taiwan)
November 15, 2006

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In the Presidential Building in Taipei, President Tang Wai Kiat and Premier 
Lee Yi Yang sat over for lunch in the Presidential Dining Room. Standing 
behind President Tang were his policy and communication advisors, and behind 
Premier Lee his cabinet ministers. Though both of them were members of the 
Democratic Progressive Party, over the months the two had begun bucking 
against each other in private, each of them trying to move over with their 
own priorities and ambitions. President Tang wanted to expand spending on 
the armed forces, and to pursue a more hard line approach against the 
mainland and the realization of an independent Taiwan, while Premier Lee was 
only interested in focusing on solidifying the DPP’s hold the legislative 
Yuan and on bring forward more health care and social spending reforms.

“I brought you down here to discuss the midpoint of this government and this 
administration. We obviously can’t bring up any constitutional reform since 
public out lash earlier, and aside from bringing up the independence 
rhetoric we haven’t done an awful lot.”

”I understand Mr. President. So what do you want me to do, we’re currently 
drafting up the next fiscal budget, and on that budget we’re looking at 
continuing our cash flow to health care expansion and disease control. The 
economy’s in a good shape, and we’re seeing a surplus with current spending 
and income projections… if things stay this way we’ll no doubt be seeing DPP 
gains in the Legislature”

”Ok, How about the expansion of the military budget, or the equipment 
acquirements I outlined in my new defence mandate?” asked the President as 
he poured himself another cup of tea.

Premier Lee flinched for a moment before catching his composure. His body 
language told Tang that he wasn’t too keen on bringing up more military 
spending which would no doubt steer the ROC towards independence. Tang again 
raised the question, staring down the Premier who he’d appointed and 
unknowing to the party and the public, had difficulty controlling. “Premier 
Lee, what is the status our of defence procurements, has the minister of 
defence pushed hard enough on that agenda?”

“Mr. President…with due respect…I’m not interested in pushing again on that 
front. We’ve been rebuffed by the United Kingdom, and still haven’t moved 
much on the American front. The rest of the world isn’t interested in 
pushing the envelope and jeopardizing the status quo. Every time we push 
against that front, we piss off the mainland and make the rest of the world 
nervous…”

”Premier Lee, it has always been the intention of this party while 
unofficially, we’ve always been steering towards the independence agenda. 
While I acknowledge that such a declaration or unilateral action towards 
that goal would be costly in blood and land, maintaining our technological 
dominance over the mainland has always been vital in keeping the status quo 
with the mainland. Now I’ll say again like I said three months ago. As 
President of the Republic of China, I want you to draft an amendment to your 
purposed budget, this amendment would include an increase to 10 Billion USD 
from our previous budget 7.6 Billion USD, as well as an extra 2 Billion USD 
for replacement of dated air force and naval equipment.”

Premier Lee dropped his utensils, and wiped down his mouth with his napkin. 
He wasn’t keen on taking up this type of conversation and wasn’t pleased 
that he had been backed into a corner by Tang.  “Mr. President…I don’t think 
that’s do-able. I think –“

”I don’t care what you think Mr. Lee. You will draft this amendment, and the 
legislature will pass it. The Pan-Blue and the Pan-Green Coalitions of the 
Yuan will not vote it down. For one, the region has been flaring off and on 
with the North Korean crisis and secondly we’ll need to ensure that we’re 
still winning the technological edge over the mainland, they won’t vote it 
down… Status quo”

”Very well Mr. President. I’ll be calling up the amendment to committee and 
drafting it Legislative Floor by the end of the month…” Premier Lee, 
unpleased by the administration’s direction and even more with Tang’s 
leadership abruptly left his table. To measure some minimum respect to the 
President he made a slight bow before retiring from the dining hall. 
President Tang raised his cup and nodded back before turning to his 
advisors.

”That man is pissing me off… He’s a god damn wimp and I won’t have him 
serving as my Premier…”

“Now’s not the time Mr. President… our polling numbers have stabilized, any 
shift in the Yuans will only rattle the cage. Don’t forget we have an 
election to win in less than two years. Anyways, on another matter you have 
that bi-weekly press conference in thirty minutes”

”I guess not… but draft up a short list of potential replacements for after 
the elections.” Tang rose from his end of the table and joined his advisors, 
his speaking points handed by his writing staff in hand. “Let’s go.”

Actions:

-2007 Fiscal Budget to include additional spending in health care and 
continued expansion of Taiwan’s CDC (3 Billion USD)
-Amendment to expand military annual budget to 10 Billion USD from 7.6 
Billion USD
-2 Billion USD to be added on for additional equipment procurements for 
fighter jets and naval hardware and equipment expansion

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