TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The Legislative Yuan on Friday passed the third reading of an NT$8.81 billion (US$280 million) special defense budget for 2026.
During this week’s review, lawmakers cut NT$2 million in operating expenses from the package previously proposed by the government. The budget approved Friday includes funds for the procurement of several weapon systems used for asymmetrical warfare, the Liberty Times reported.
The list features:
- NT$3.92 billion for M109A7 self-propelled howitzers
- NT$2.79 billion for HIMARS rocket systems
- NT$1.79 billion for anti-armor drone missiles
- NT$162 million for Javelin anti-tank missiles
- NT$130 million for TOW 2B anti-tank missiles
The inclusion of the HIMARS rockets comes two days before the US deadline for an NT$800 million down payment. If Taiwan missed the deadline, the procurement case would be canceled and would have to be restarted.
Friday’s vote followed the rejection of the government’s NT$1.25 trillion eight-year special defense budget by the opposition majority at the Legislative Yuan. The KMT and the TPP on May 8 approved a budget of their own capped at NT$780 billion which included the programs covered by Friday’s budget.
The opposition program saw a first phase of arms procurement with a maximum limit of NT$300 billion for a deal already approved by the US, and a second phase carrying a ceiling of NT$480 billion for a package still to be announced.
