Overview
- Taiwan’s Cabinet cleared a NT$550 billion special budget on Sept. 11 to bolster national resilience across security and the economy.
- NT$150 billion is allocated to expand defenses, including more coast guard patrol vessels, domestic drone production, and upgrades to command-and-control systems.
- The plan provides support for sectors hit by the United States’ 20% tariff and includes NT$236 billion in cash handouts to the public, with financing from past surpluses and new debt.
- Defence Minister Wellington Koo said the funding aims to increase combat readiness and strengthen training for reserves and the one-year mandatory service cohort.
- Passage is not assured because the opposition holds a slim legislative majority, and a lawmaker separately said the defence ministry is working on a seven-year NT$800 billion–NT$1 trillion plan that has not been approved.