NT$1.25 Trillion Military Budget Includes Missiles, Howitzers, and Critical Ammunition

Taiwan's government is moving forward with a substantial NT$1.25 trillion (approximately $38.6 billion USD) special budget for military procurement, a move aimed at bolstering the island's defense resilience and asymmetric warfare capabilities. This significant financial commitment underscores Taiwan's determination to enhance its self-defense in the face of escalating military threats from mainland China.

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The government has proposed a special budget of NT$1.25 trillion for military procurement, but opposition lawmakers are not buying it.

The proposed budget is earmarked for a diverse range of advanced weaponry. This includes acquiring U.S.-made Patriot PAC-3 MSE missiles, the IBCS integrated battlefield management system, and NASAMS air defense missile systems, complemented by Taiwan's indigenous 'Sky Bow' missile program to create a robust 'Shield of Taiwan.' Additionally, the plan incorporates the procurement of low-cost attack drones, suicide unmanned surface vessels, M109A7 self-propelled howitzers, and HIMARS multiple rocket launcher systems to strengthen coastal and ground strike capabilities.

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The NT$1.25 trillion special military procurement budget is not only for increasing the number of U.S.-made Patriot PAC-3 MSE missiles, the IBCS integrated battlefield management system, and NASAMS national air defense missile systems, but also to introduce low-cost attack drones, suicide unmanned surface vessels, and M109A7 self-propelled howitzers, and HIMARS multiple rocket launcher systems.

A critical, yet less publicized, component of this special budget is the one-time replenishment of urgently needed traditional ammunition. Military sources indicate that extensive drills and training over the past five years have depleted existing stockpiles of artillery shells and other munitions. Furthermore, the relocation of ordnance factories and the transition between production lines have impacted the military's ability to maintain adequate reserves. The government intends to use the special budget to procure 120mm tank rounds, 105mm tank rounds, 30mm autocannon rounds, and components for 155mm howitzers, such as propellant charges and high-explosive warheads.

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In addition to various missiles and rockets, a considerable portion of the NT$1.25 trillion military procurement special budget is to replenish urgently needed ammunition for combat readiness, to be replenished in one go through the special budget.

While the government emphasizes the necessity of this comprehensive procurement plan, some opposition lawmakers have expressed concerns about the transparency and clarity of the budget's allocation. In response, the Ministry of National Defense is scheduled to provide a detailed briefing to the Legislative Yuan's Foreign and National Defense Committee. This meeting, however, will be conducted in a closed-door, secret session, citing national security sensitivities. From Taiwan's perspective, as covered by Liberty Times, this significant investment is a vital step in deterring potential aggression and ensuring the island's security, reflecting a national consensus on the need for robust self-defense capabilities, even as detailed implementation remains a subject of legislative scrutiny.

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These traditional munitions were originally available for domestic production and self-sufficiency, but due to the military's practical training in various exercises and drills over the past five years, all types of artillery shells have been fired quickly and in large quantities.