Taiwan parliament passes defence budget after record-long delay

Taiwan's parliament has ended a record-long deadlock over the island's defence budget, giving final approval to spending plans that secure funding for a significant drone programme.

The approval comes against a backdrop of escalating tensions between Taiwan and China, which claims the self-governed island as its own territory and has not ruled out using force to bring it under its control. The budget's passage allows Taiwan's government to press ahead with efforts to strengthen its military capabilities.

A prolonged standoff

The process of passing the budget took longer than ever before, reflecting deep political divisions among Taiwanese lawmakers over the scale and priorities of defence spending. Despite the delay, an agreement was eventually reached that keeps military modernisation programmes, including the acquisition and development of unmanned drones, on track.

Drones have become an increasingly central part of Taiwan's defence planning as it prepares for the possibility of Chinese military aggression. Unmanned systems have grown in importance in modern warfare in recent years, and Taiwan has been working to expand its capabilities in this area.

The budget's passage is seen as enabling Taiwan's armed forces to continue their planned modernisation, despite the domestic political friction that had delayed the decision.