Taiwan's Government proposed an additional increase of 145.7 billion Taiwanese dollars (3.95 billion euros) in Defense spending to strengthen the island's defensive combat capability. The executive branch recalled that it had already presented a special Defense budget of 1.25 trillion Taiwanese dollars (33.883 billion euros) for the period between 2026 and 2033. However, the proposal was reduced by 470 billion Taiwanese dollars (12.739 billion euros) by parliament, currently controlled by the opposition.
The initiative provides funding to acquire more than 600 coastal surveillance and reconnaissance drones, more than 40,000 coastal attack drones, and a first batch of more than 100 small unmanned suicide attack vessels. According to Taiwanese Premier Cho Jung-tai, "national security cannot wait, the Defense budget cannot wait, and Defense autonomy also cannot wait".
This measure is part of a broader budget reinforcement package worth 607.6 billion Taiwanese dollars (16.473 billion euros). A week earlier, parliament had approved a 240 billion Taiwanese dollar (6.506 billion euros) law for the acquisition of military drones over six years, with priority given to domestically manufactured drones. In August, a 2026 budget had already been approved with 63.4 billion Taiwanese dollars (1.719 billion euros) for drones.
Faced with Beijing's growing military power, Taipei has been strengthening its "asymmetric warfare" capabilities, prioritizing systems such as drones, missiles, and naval mines over traditional means. China considers Taiwan a province of its own and does not rule out the use of force to achieve reunification.
