Taiwan's opposition bloc — the KMT and the TPP — is under fire for pushing measures that hit vulnerable groups first and then undercut the defense budget, a bad look for the parties and a worry for anyone counting on Taiwan's military spending.

• The two parties, which together control the legislature, are accused of squeezing money meant for weaker groups in society.
• The bigger flashpoint is defense: their moves are seen as gutting or mocking the military budget at a time when the China threat is growing.
• Street reactions were blunt, with ordinary people giving short, dismissive answers about the parties' behavior.
• Defense spending is also a live issue with Washington, which keeps pressing Taipei to spend more on its own security.

Outlook: Expect the budget fight in the legislature to keep escalating, with defense funding the main battleground heading into the next session.