Cross-Party 'Reconciliation Dinner' Collapses Over Budget: Executive Yuan Refuses to Fund Indigenous Compensation, Lawmakers Walk Out on Hollow Talks

On October 11, 2024 (113th Year of the Republic of China), Legislative Yuan President Han Kuo-yu and Premier Cho Jung-tai hosted a high-profile cross-party 'Reconciliation Dinner' at Dian Shui Lou restaurant with ruling and opposition legislative leaders. The gathering was aimed at breaking the constitutional impasse surrounding the Fiscal Year 2025 general budget, which opposition parties repeatedly returned after the Executive Yuan unlawfully refused to fully fund the statutory NT$60,000-per-hectare allowance under the Indigenous Peoples Reservation Land Logging Ban Compensation Act. However, during the nearly two-hour dinner, the Executive Yuan failed to offer any concrete solution, with Premier Cho and DPP leaders deflecting accountability under fiscal excuses. Taiwan People's Party caucus whip Huang Kuo-chang denounced the cabinet for 'arriving completely empty-handed just to eat instead of solving problems' and angrily walked out. Kuomintang whip Fu Kun-chi reiterated that the cabinet must adhere to the rule of law. The highly anticipated dinner concluded in complete collapse, drastically deepening political gridlock.