The Political Yuan counter-signed the Unmanned Vehicle Ordinance Cheng Lai-man: Returning to the track of constitutionalism without making concessions

The Executive Yuan announced the counter-signing of the "Ordinance on Strengthening National Defense Autonomy and Development of the Unmanned Vehicle Industry." KMT Chairman Cheng Lai-wen said that the Executive Yuan has finally returned to the track of constitutional government today. However, this is not a concession by Executive President Zhuo Yongtai to Congress, nor is it an expression of goodwill by the Executive Yuan. It is the constitutional responsibility that the Executive Yuan should perform in the first place.

Cheng Lai-man said that in the past, Toh Wing-tai frequently used "no countersignature" to evade the third reading of laws in the National Assembly, unilaterally expanded executive power and arbitrarily interpreted the constitution. The Executive Yuan continued to create constitutional conflicts, which was the culprit of the political deadlock. Now that I am willing to countersign, I just want to stop making mistakes and get back on track. There is no room for claiming credit.

Zheng Liwen pointed out that the Kuomintang supports the strengthening of national defense and the establishment of independent, reliable and resilient unmanned vehicle combat capabilities and industrial chains. However, national defense construction cannot be used as an excuse to expand administrative powers, and national security cannot be used as a shield to avoid supervision. The Executive Yuan has the power to prepare the budget, and the Legislative Yuan has the power to review the budget. Congressional supervision has never been the ceiling of national defense capabilities, and the Executive Yuan cannot interpret the budget power as a blank authorization of executive power.

Zheng Liwen said that in the past, the Executive Yuan repeatedly claimed that the establishment of an unmanned aerial vehicle army was urgent and that it could not be compiled into a special budget. However, now it has included 55.9 billion yuan in unmanned vehicle funding into the supplementary budget on its own, which just proves that the Kuomintang's proposition is tenable. National defense construction can be continuously promoted through annual and supplementary budgets, and there is no need to normalize special budgets.

Zheng Liwen believes that national defense secrets that should be kept secret should be kept secret in accordance with the law, but "confidentiality" cannot be a pass for black box procurement. Industrial policies, supply chains, localization, subsidies and huge public expenditures must all be subject to congressional supervision.

Cheng Lai-wen emphasized that the counter-signing of the Unmanned Vehicle Ordinance is only the first step for the Executive Yuan to stop being arbitrary and return to constitutional order. The remaining eight cases should also be handled in accordance with the law as soon as possible. Taiwan can no longer be dragged into a vicious constitutional struggle by the arrogance of the executive power, let alone allow any ruler to put his or her own interpretation of the Constitution above the Constitution. Respecting the separation of powers and accepting democratic checks and balances are the most basic constitutional responsibilities of those in power.