Taiwan Approves $2 Billion for Drone Development and Procurement

TAIPEI, Aug 15: Taiwan’s opposition-controlled legislature has approved the 2026 government budget after a record 266-day delay, ending an unprecedented political deadlock that had forced the government to operate under provisional spending arrangements. Lawmakers approved total spending of about NT$2.987 trillion ($93 billion), around NT$48 billion below the government’s original proposal.

A key component of the approved budget is NT$63.4 billion ($2 billion) for drone industry development and procurement, which passed without cuts despite earlier opposition proposals to reduce the allocation by 70%. The budget also includes reductions to military equipment and facility spending, agency heads’ special allowances and media and publicity budgets. Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu said the prolonged dispute had deepened social divisions and created a constitutional impasse, calling on the ruling and opposition parties to seek greater compromise.