Post by : Shakul

Taipei: Taiwan’s legislature has started reviewing a long-delayed special defence budget worth about NT$1.25 trillion (around US$40 billion), but sharp differences among the island’s major political parties are expected to complicate its approval. The plan, proposed by the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government, aims to strengthen Taiwan’s military capabilities between 2026 and 2033 as tensions with mainland China continue to rise.

The proposed package combines large-scale arms purchases from the United States with investments in locally developed defence systems. The US equipment included in the plan features 82 HIMARS rocket launchers, tactical missiles, M109A7 self-propelled howitzers, Javelin and Tow anti-tank missiles, along with reconnaissance and loitering drones. Washington previously approved around US$11 billion in arms sales to Taiwan covering several of these systems.

Alongside foreign weapons purchases, the government also plans major funding for indigenous defence programmes, including the production of roughly 200,000 drones, more than 1,000 unmanned surface vessels for coastal defence, and the development of a layered air defence network known as “T-Dome” or “Taiwan Shield.” The system is designed to integrate Taiwan-made Sky Bow and Land Sword missiles with US-supplied Patriot and NASAMS systems to create a multi-layer air defence shield.

However, opposition parties including the Kuomintang (KMT) and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) have proposed much smaller defence packages ranging between NT$380 billion and NT$400 billion. They argue that spending should be limited mainly to confirmed US arms purchases and that locally developed projects such as drones and the T-Dome system should be funded through the regular defence budget for greater oversight.

With none of Taiwan’s three major political parties holding a clear majority in the legislature, analysts say the defence bill could face lengthy negotiations before it is approved. The debate comes as the United States continues urging Taiwan to increase defence spending and speed up military procurement amid growing military pressure from Beijing, which considers Taiwan part of China and has not ruled out the use of force to reunify the island.

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