Taiwan Lawmakers Approve $7.6 Bn Drone Budget as China Threat Grows
The opposition-backed plan shifts spending to annual budgets as Taiwan pushes to expand local drone production for asymmetric defense.
- On Thursday, Taiwan lawmakers approved a $7.6 billion budget for locally made drones to strengthen the island's defenses against potential Chinese attack.
- Parliament rejected President Lai Ching-te's proposed special budget for unmanned vehicles, instead backing a Kuomintang and Taiwan People's Party plan for NT$240 billion over six years.
- KMT lawmaker Hsu Chiao-hsin emphasized the need for "reputable manufacturers that can deliver non-red supply chains" and cybersecurity standards to ensure stable industry growth.
- Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim cited China's "grey-zone activities" as urgent threats, while the war in Ukraine demonstrated how drone-based asymmetric warfare deters mightier militaries.
- Lai's administration has earmarked a record NT$1.1 trillion for 2027 defense spending, accounting for more than three percent of GDP as the island ramps up domestic military investment.
22 Articles
22 Articles
Taiwan's opposition-controlled parliament rejected on Thursday a T$210 billion ($6.6 billion) government plan for a special budget to buy new military drones and passed their own plan instead, which sets annual spending at T$40 billion.
Taiwan lawmakers approve $7.6 billion drone budget as China threat grows
A spending proposal backed by opposition parties — the Kuomintang (KMT) and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) —cleared parliament after a plan submitted by President Lai Ching-te’s government was rejected
Lawmakers reject Cabinet drone bill, pass own instead
The legislature yesterday rejected the Executive Yuan’s NT$210 billion (US$6.62 billion) special budget proposal to buy military drones and instead passed its own plan, which earmarks NT$40 billion per year over six consecutive years.The Executive Yuan said its plan to buy about 210,000 drones by 20
Taiwan wants to arm itself for a possible attack by China. The opposition slows down the government's drone plans and instead approves its own.
The Independent
The Independent (US)Taiwan’s lawmakers reject government’s £5bn plan to expand military drone fleet
Parliament instead approves about £930m in annual funding
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- 35% of the sources lean Left, 35% of the sources are Center
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