TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – At the Legislative Yuan on Friday the opposition blocked the review of a NT$210 billion (US$6.59 billion) budget for drones.
The June 18 government proposal intended to spend the funds on the procurement of 210,000 uncrewed aerial vehicles and small “suicide” drone boats, the Liberty Times reported. The main opposition KMT had promised to issue its own version of the drone budget, but on Friday it received the support of the TPP to postpone the review of the government proposal.
The budget was submitted after the opposition removed money for the drones from the NT$780 billion special defense budget it approved in May. The government has since tried to make up for the cuts by submitting separate budgets for items like the drones.
Legislators voted 55 against 44 to postpone the review of the government drone plan, according to the Liberty Times. KMT Caucus Whip Fu Kun-chi (傅崐萁) said the party will propose its own drone budget next week, though the amount is still being discussed.
The opposition politician left the door open to discuss the government's version. He added the KMT supported the drone industry, favoring subsidies and tax concessions.
