KMT Approves Full 63.4 Billion NT Dollar Drone Budget After Reversal

Taiwan's opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party has fully approved a budget of 63.4 billion New Taiwan dollars for drone development and procurement, reversing an earlier decision to freeze the funds. The party's stance shifted after discussions and clarification regarding the budget's details.

Initially, the KMT caucus proposed a complete deletion of the six-year, 44.2 billion NT dollar "Unmanned Vehicle Industry Development Integrated Plan" by the executive branch, along with 19.2 billion NT dollars in procurement budgets from various ministries. However, they later revised this to a freeze before ultimately endorsing the full amount.

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The caucus strongly supports the development of the drone industry and strengthening national defense.

The KMT caucus emphasized its strong support for advancing Taiwan's drone industry and bolstering national defense. They aim to establish Taiwan as a world-class "guardian mountain" in the defense sector and a leading global drone production base, leveraging the island's comprehensive supply chain.

Party officials cited delays in information provided by the Ministry of Economic Affairs as the reason for the initial hesitation. Following negotiations led by Legislative Yuan President Han Kuo-yu, the KMT confirmed that the procurement budget did not overlap with the current year's allocations. The party also stipulated that the 44.2 billion dollar plan should be evenly allocated over six years, with annual spending caps, to ensure stable orders for domestic manufacturers and prevent industry disruptions.

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True support for national defense means spending the people's money wisely. While supporting the industry's growth, the caucus will continue to strictly oversee, ensuring Taiwan's defense supply chain is robust, clean, and transparent.