President William Lai Announces NT$10,000 Universal Cash Handout for All Taiwanese Citizens in 2027 Budget
President William Lai announced that the government will allocate NT$235.7 billion to provide a NT$10,000 cash payment for every Taiwanese citizen in the 2027 budget. This universal handout is intended to allow all citizens to share in the 'AI dividend' as the economy continues to grow. President William Lai noted that the government will maintain a balanced budget despite the inclusion of the handout. The proposed budget, which which totals NT$3.9266 trillion, includes significant investments in defense, with NT$1.1225 trillion allocated for military spending. Defense spending will account for 3.01 percent of GDP, with a goal to reach 5 percent by 2030. The budget also includes provisions for social welfare, technological development, and salary increases for civil servants and teachers. The Cabinet is expected to submit the budget to the Legislative Yuan for review by the end of this month.