The party is facing growing pressure from the United States over its response to a proposed NT$1.25 trillion (US$40 billion) special defence budget put forward by the ruling Democratic Progressive Party to fund the purchase of arms from the US and the development of domestic weapons.

Washington’s de facto ambassador in Taipei, Raymond Greene, last week urged legislators to approve a “comprehensive” package, reflecting US concerns that the extra spending could be delayed or watered down at a time of heightened tensions with mainland China.

However, the KMT is split between a leadership-backed proposal of “NT$380 billion plus N” – in which the N refers to extra funds that could be allocated on top of the baseline figure once the US quotes a formal price – and a rival camp that advocates spending up to NT$800 billion in advance.

The divide has exposed deeper tensions over strategy, messaging and electoral risk.