TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) on Wednesday said opposition cuts to drone-related funding would seriously undermine Taiwan’s national defense and domestic defense industry development, while urging lawmakers to conduct a nonpartisan review of defense spending.
The legislature on May 8 passed an NT$780 billion (US$24 billion) special defense budget proposed by the opposition KMT and TPP, cutting NT$470 billion from the Cabinet’s original proposal, including major reductions in drone-related funding. Lai told reporters on Wednesday that drone development is extremely important to national defense, as demonstrated in both the Russia-Ukraine war and conflicts in the Middle East, per CNA.
He said the opposition parties’ cuts to the drone budget would inevitably harm national defense and hinder the development of Taiwan’s indigenous defense industry. Lai said the government must therefore move quickly to strengthen the unmanned vehicle sector, adding that Taiwan can do so.
The president said Taiwan has a strong industrial foundation and is capable of developing an independent defense industry. He said this would both safeguard national security and promote economic development.
Lai said the KMT has used allegations that certain businesses are politically connected to the DPP as justification for cutting budgets, including in both defense procurement and the solar energy sector. However, he said businesses involved in solar and photovoltaic development include supporters of all political parties because they come from across Taiwanese society.
He added that more issues have recently surfaced in KMT-administered cities and counties. Lai said the drone industry, which is crucial to national security and industrial development, should not be targeted through labeling or smear campaigns aimed at cutting its budget.
