Taiwan's opposition-led budget cuts have backfired on the legislature itself, and critics say the embarrassment is theater because the money gets quietly restored later.

• The KMT and TPP cut government overseas travel budgets by 30%, and the Legislative Yuan's own travel money ran out as a result.
• The legislature stopped accepting applications for funding for lawmaker delegations abroad.
• KMT lawmakers say the cut proves they were saving money across the board, not targeting the executive branch.
• Critics point out the same trick was used last year: travel money was slashed before a recall vote, then topped back up months later through a supplementary budget.
• Trips already approved are going ahead, including a Japan visit by KMT figure Chiang Chi-chen and several other opposition lawmakers.

Outlook: Expect the travel money to reappear in a supplementary budget, repeating last year's pattern.