Taiwan's ruling and opposition parties are now fighting over how big a cash handout to give every citizen, a fight that is good news for voters but risky for the government's books.

• President Lai Ching-te has already promised a NT$10,000 payment to everyone next year.
• The KMT's legislative caucus leader Fu Kun-chi wants to go much bigger — NT$20,000 to NT$30,000 per person.
• DPP Taipei mayoral candidate Puma Shen mocked the idea, saying Fu's sense of money "has no limit," pointing to his past NT$2.5 trillion eastern Taiwan development bills.
• Shen argued handouts should only come from a surplus, without new borrowing, and only after welfare, pensions and farmer subsidies are fully funded.
• He suggested Fu take the idea to Taipei instead, since the city has a healthier budget, and talk it over with KMT Mayor Chiang Wan-an.

Outlook: Expect the handout fight to grow into a central budget battle and a campaign issue in the Taipei mayoral race.