Taiwan Minister Clarifies Drone Plan, Denies Illegal Budgeting

Taiwan's Minister of Economic Affairs, Kung Ming-hsin, has refuted claims that a recently approved six-year plan for the drone industry constitutes an illegal budget allocation. Kung clarified that the "Integrated Plan for the Development of Unmanned Vehicle Industries" is a continuation of projects already underway, with many drone-related initiatives having begun as early as 2023. He explained that the integrated plan consolidates existing departmental plans to provide a clear direction for the drone industry's development over the next five to ten years, outlining potential funding, policy benefits, and economic output. Citing Article 54 of the Budget Act, Kung stated that ongoing projects can legally continue before the annual budget is finalized. He pointed to specific initiatives like the "Asia Drone Innovation Center Development Plan" and the "Chip-Driven Taiwan Industry Innovation - Drone Key Chip and Industry Acceleration Plan" as examples of existing, publicly verifiable projects. The Minister expressed concern that the suspension of cross-year plans, due to budget cuts, risks halting ongoing research and development, impacting industry investment, and potentially leading to talent drain. He urged the legislature to carefully consider the future of Taiwan's drone industry, highlighting its role in technological competition, supply chain diversification, and economic growth.

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This is a misunderstanding. Many drone-related plans were already approved and are cross-year continuation projects that began execution in 2023.