Taiwan’s opposition-controlled parliament rejected a government special budget for military drones on August 27 and approved its own spending framework instead. Reuters reported that the government had sought T$210 billion, approximately US$6.6 billion, for a programme running until 2031 to purchase about 210,000 drones.
The opposition alternative provided for T$240 billion over six years through annual budgets. It set spending at T$40 billion a year in principle, while allowing increases if necessary. The distinction concerned the structure and oversight of expenditure, not simply whether drones should receive funding.
Premier Cho Jung-tai said the government would examine whether the legislation met national-security requirements and supported domestic drone and unmanned-vehicle development. The defence ministry expressed regret that its proposal had failed, saying it followed detailed assessments and coordination with unnamed allied countries. The government argued that recent wars demonstrated the importance of unmanned systems amid pressure from China. Reuters reported parliamentary approval of the alternative; the premier’s response did not amount to confirmation that every subsequent legal and procurement step had been completed.