1. Our party has repeatedly clarified that the Ministry of National Defense's budget for fiscal year 2025 was proposed at NT$476 billion. Following a reduction of NT$8.447 billion, the legally approved budget stands at NT$467.5 billion—the highest in history. Furthermore, aside from the submarine project ("Hai Kun"), which remains frozen due to incomplete sea trials, all other previously frozen budgets have been fully released. Despite these clarifications, President Lai Ching-te continues to inaccurately accuse opposition parties of obstructing national defense by slashing or freezing budgets.

2. Given the severity of the situation across the Taiwan Strait, supporting national defense and our military remains a national consensus. However, responsible management of taxpayer funds is essential. Budget freezes serve as necessary checks to ensure ministries conduct proper evaluations, guaranteeing taxpayer money is utilized effectively. President Lai, with his extensive legislative experience of four terms, should fully appreciate the importance of legislative oversight and accountability. Additionally, it is noteworthy that when opposition parties proposed pay raises for military personnel, it was the DPP legislative caucus that opposed the motion. We urge the DPP to refrain from distorting these facts or disseminating misinformation.

3. Regarding the NT$410 billion special budget mentioned by President Lai, NT$150 billion is allocated to enhance homeland security resilience. Our legislative caucus has previously raised clear concerns, including: (1) surveillance enhancement within Taiwan’s 24-nautical-mile waters, officially described as combating "country-of-origin laundering," has frequently been questioned as primarily targeting anti-smuggling operations, thus raising concerns about policy clarity; and (2) funding for coastal patrols and unmanned vehicles appears redundant, as these items are already included in regular annual budgets. It is imperative to transparently address these concerns with both the public and legislature before requesting significant additional funds. Procedurally, such requests should also be pursued through supplemental budgets rather than embedded within unrelated special budget items. Unfortunately, President Lai has yet to adequately address these legitimate concerns.

4. Diplomacy is the upcoming topic in President Lai’s "Ten Talks for Unity." Effective diplomatic discourse, however, requires accountability. If Joseph Wu, currently Secretary-General of the National Security Council, continues to advise President Lai despite his diplomatic record of Taiwan losing eight diplomatic allies over six years and controversies involving personnel security, even the most eloquent diplomatic statements will lack credibility.

5. President Lai continues to link his public addresses to recall issues, repeatedly mischaracterizing "greater democracy" to justify actions widely viewed as undermining democratic principles after electoral setbacks. Such actions seriously raise concerns regarding the prioritization of power over democratic integrity. Mere rhetorical appeals to democracy cannot mask the erosion of genuine unity and public trust.