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Taiwan lawmakers deadlock on military drone bill after six hours

The cabinet-backed plan calls for a NT$210 billion, five-year budget to procure more than 200,000 drones and unmanned vessels, while the opposition seeks NT$240 billion over six years through regular annual funding.

Reported · Written up by our desk · Trade & Tariffs

Taiwan’s legislature failed to agree on competing versions of a bill to buy and develop military drones after about six hours of debate, setting up a political standoff that could slow efforts to expand the island’s drone arsenal, according to SCMP Economy.

While both the ruling Democratic Progressive Party and the opposition broadly support increasing Taiwan’s drone stockpiles, they disagree on program oversight and financing.

The cabinet has proposed a NT$210 billion (US$7.1 billion) special budget for the next five years to procure more than 200,000 locally produced drones and unmanned surface vessels, including coastal surveillance drones, coastal strike drones and small suicide boats.

The Kuomintang wants NT$240 billion allocated over six years through regular annual budgets, arguing that annual legislative scrutiny would strengthen fiscal oversight while leaving procurement plans more adaptable to fast-changing technology.

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