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Taiwan passes annual budget after long delay, including drone spending
The opposition-controlled legislature trimmed NT$48 billion from the plan and kept NT$63.4 billion for drones to support defense spending.
On Friday, Taiwan's Legislature approved the central government's 2026 budget, authorizing NT$2.9869 trillion in spending after a record 266-day delay.
Opposition parties holding a majority in the Legislative Yuan delayed passage by citing wasteful spending concerns, though caucus leader Fu Kun-chi claimed the opposition showed "utmost goodwill" in advancing the budget.
Lawmakers cut proposed expenditure by NT$48 billion, or around 1.6 percent of the total, yet the NT$63.4 billion drone industry budget passed without reductions despite the Kuomintang's earlier threats to slash it by 70 percent.
Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu warned the prolonged review caused social division and constitutional impasse. Special allowance funds will be reduced 60 percent across agencies, with 20 institutions facing complete elimination of those budgets.
The government plans to announce its 2027 expenditure plan on August 20, with Parliament expected to receive the proposal for review by month's end.