Look, Weng Hsiao-ling! Fu Kun-chi Apologizes for Canceling Orders to Sheltered Workshops, Bows for 5 Seconds: 'We Will Take Over All Related Orders'

KMT proportional-representation legislator Weng Hsiao-ling proposed cutting the presidential discretionary fund, which passed with support from opposition lawmakers, affecting the Presidential Office's budget for ordering Mid-Autumn Festival mooncakes from sheltered workshops. Amid growing controversy, KMT Legislative Yuan caucus leader Fu Kun-chi personally apologized at a press conference on the 1st, bowing deeply for five seconds. 'We deeply apologize for the disturbance caused by our failure to exclude procurement funds for disadvantaged groups from the budget cuts and freezes during the review process. The KMT caucus sincerely expresses its regret and will comprehensively assume all affected orders,' he stated.

On August 14, the Legislative Yuan passed the 2026 (FY 115) central government budget. Within this, the Presidential Office's requested NT$30 million in presidential discretionary funds was reduced by NT$10 million and frozen by NT$20 million, per Weng Hsiao-ling's proposal. The frozen portion will only be released after President Lai Qing-te publishes five bills passed by the legislature and submits a written report to the Judiciary and Legal Affairs Committee for approval.

Presidential Office Deputy Secretary-General Ho Chih-wei had repeatedly emphasized that the discretionary fund was used to purchase gifts for disadvantaged groups, but the budget was ultimately cut and frozen. According to the 'Presidential Office Guidelines for the Use of Discretionary Funds,' these funds cover necessary expenses for the head of state, including domestic and international visits, rewards, subsidies, condolences, receptions, gifts, and other related costs. As per the 2026 budget documents, the discretionary fund has been set at NT$30 million annually since 2014, and had not been cut or frozen in the past 11 years. In 2024, 52% was spent on military, police, and intelligence units and Presidential Office staff, about 41% on disadvantaged groups and social welfare organizations, and about 7% on victims and families of emergencies.

Fu Kun-chi addressed the response to groups whose orders were 'canceled.' During a meeting with a drone industry group, Fu, along with KMT caucus secretary Hsu Yu-chen and Taichung legislator Lo Ting-wei, held a press conference and bowed for five seconds before the media. 'After days of turmoil, the KMT caucus wishes to reiterate to the public: this issue originated from the presidential discretionary fund. Any cuts or freezes by KMT legislators were in response to President Lai Qing-te and Premier Cho Jung-tai's refusal to co-sign major bills on livelihood and national defense, reflecting their dereliction of duty,' he said.

However, Fu admitted, 'We acknowledge that in the process of cutting and freezing the discretionary fund, we failed to exclude the procurement of mooncakes from sheltered workshops for disadvantaged groups. For this, we offer our deepest apologies.' He announced that the KMT caucus would demand that three times the amount of mooncakes be purchased from sheltered workshops in the 2027 (FY 116) presidential discretionary budget. He also urged President Lai and Premier Cho to empathize with the people's hardships and promptly co-sign the relevant bills, questioning how a government with a NT$3 trillion budget could claim it lacks funds to purchase mooncakes worth a few million.

Fu criticized the DPP government's 'distortion of discourse' for causing confusion among Taiwan's well-meaning citizens, expressing the KMT caucus's profound regret. He formally declared that the KMT would 'comprehensively assume' all orders canceled by the Presidential Office this year, including those from Hualien's Liming Care Center, Ande Developmental Center, and the Spinal Cord Injury Association—organizations that received orders last year but were canceled this year. For any other groups across counties and cities affected by cancellations, he invited them to call the KMT caucus, stating, 'If President Lai is unwilling to act, the KMT caucus will.'

After Fu's apology, DPP caucus whip Chuang Jui-hsiung responded in writing: 'The KMT has finally bowed in apology for cutting the budget and affecting sheltered workshops. We respect that. But during the budget review, the ruling party and the Presidential Office repeatedly explained that this budget involved procurement from disadvantaged groups. The KMT simply refused to listen and cut anyway. It's not that no one warned them; they were warned but cut anyway. It's not that they didn't know; they just didn't want to listen at the time. Now it's even more absurd—the KMT says next year it will demand the Presidential Office “buy three times as much.”'

Chuang questioned whether the KMT, after harshly cutting the Presidential Office's budget this year, now intends to draft the budget next year, replacing the Executive Yuan and acting as the Presidential Office's chief accountant. 'National budgets aren't like haggling at a market. You can't just cut wrongly this year and say “we'll buy three times next year” to resolve it,' he criticized. Regarding the KMT's announcement to 'comprehensively assume' the orders, Chuang welcomed it and hoped they would fulfill their promise and buy everything. But he urged them not to forget how it happened: 'First you cancel their orders, then announce you'll save them. This isn't “delivering charcoal in the snow”; it's taking the charcoal away first, then bringing it back for a photo.'

Chuang emphasized that if the KMT is willing to bow, they should truly learn the lesson. 'True political responsibility isn't bowing for five seconds after making a mistake, but taking five extra minutes to read the budget carefully before casting the vote. Vulnerable groups should not become casualties in political battles.'