TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense on Friday said three major US arms offers could lapse if the country's special defense budget is not approved in time.
The draft pricing, valid until March 15, covers follow-on orders of towed missiles and Javelin anti-tank missiles, as well as new orders of M109A7 self-propelled howitzers. Under arms sales procedures, the deals could be canceled or costs could rise if Taiwan does not sign the draft pricing by the deadline, CNA reported.
If finalized, the first payment is scheduled for March 31, unless the US grants an extension. The payment also depends on approval of the Cabinet’s special defense budget.
The NT$1.25 trillion (US$39.6 billion) special defense budget that spans over eight years has repeatedly faced opposition in the Legislative Yuan, according to PTS. The opposition KMT and TPP parties, which together hold a legislative majority, have blocked the proposal 10 times, preventing it from being sent to the relevant committee for review.
The special defense budget is subject to a 10-step legislative approval process, beginning with referral of the parent law to the relevant committee, followed by successive rounds of review and votes. As the parent law has not yet been referred, the procurement list for the budget cannot proceed to review or approval, according to Taipei City Councilor Miao Po-ya (苗博雅).
On Jan. 30, lawmakers sent a TPP defense proposal to committee review. The proposal lists six procurement items with a total spending cap of NT$400 billion, allocated annually.
The defense ministry said the TPP submission includes only a portion of the items in its full procurement plan and lacks professional evaluation. By contrast, the ministry’s proposal has received acknowledgment from the US Congress, State Department, and the American Institute in Taiwan, reflecting professional review rather than political signaling, according to CNA.
The ministry emphasized that US-supplied weapons and ammunition are critical for strengthening Taiwan’s defense. It is seeking US approval to extend the deadline for signing the draft pricing.
A US Congressional Research Service report noted that Taiwan retains certain defensive advantages against threats from China, including US political and military support and its strategic geographic position. However, disagreements in the opposition-controlled legislature, including over the special defense budget, raise questions about whether Taiwan can fully fund its defense goals, according to CNA.
The report added that arms transfers and security cooperation are the most concrete US contributions to Taiwan’s defense, mostly carried out through foreign military sales. Taiwan’s defense ministry urged lawmakers to complete the budget review promptly to secure the arms deals and maintain national defense readiness.
