Taiwan Legislature Moves NT$210 Billion Drone Bill Vote Up 1 Day as Flooding Hits South
Updated
Updated · Focus Taiwan · Aug 26
Taiwan Legislature Moves NT$210 Billion Drone Bill Vote Up 1 Day as Flooding Hits South
3 articles · Updated · Focus Taiwan · Aug 26
Summary
Thursday’s plenary vote on competing drone procurement bills was moved up from Friday after caucus leaders agreed lawmakers should return to southern districts to inspect recent flood damage, with Typhoon Saudel also approaching.
Cross-caucus talks still failed to settle the biggest disputes: whether the program should be run by the Defense Ministry, the Economic Affairs Ministry or both, and whether funding should come with annual spending caps.
The Cabinet wants a NT$210 billion special budget through 2031 under the MND, while the KMT proposes NT$240 billion in the general budget over six years with a NT$40 billion annual cap; the TPP backs general-budget funding without yearly limits.
Defense Minister Wellington Koo said the KMT plan is too broad and that NT$40 billion a year would not cover the MND’s requested coastal reconnaissance drones, coastal attack drones and small suicide unmanned surface vessels, plus NT$31.1 billion in other models for 2027.