Defense Bill: Former White House Officials Say KMT Risks Missing Lessons from Ukraine, Iraq Experiences
Former U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor Matt Pottinger and others urged Taiwan's Legislative Yuan to consider lessons from the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East when deliberating the national defense special bill. They expressed concern over the KMT's push for a reduced defense budget, arguing that important items like drone manufacturing and missile defense should be included to strengthen Taiwan's deterrence.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 8, 2026 at 10:17
- 🔍 Collected: May 8, 2026 at 10:31 (14 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 9, 2026 at 11:28 (24h 56m after Collected)
CENTRAL NEWS AGENCY
(Washington, May 7, Central News Agency reporter Hou Tzu-ying) The Legislative Yuan is expected to vote on the national defense special bill as early as the 8th. Former U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor Matt Pottinger and others published an article analyzing the practical lessons from the battlefields of Ukraine and the Middle East, and urged Taiwanese legislators that if they can draw on relevant military experience and implement it during the vote, it will enhance Taiwan's ability to deter aggression.
President Lai Ching-te proposed an additional defense budget of US$40 billion (approximately NT$1.25 trillion) over eight years last year to counter China, but it was obstructed by the opposition camp led by the Kuomintang (KMT), which pushed for a KMT version with a reduced amount.
Legislative Yuan President Han Kuo-yu has repeatedly convened cross-party negotiations on the national defense special bill, but has yet to reach a consensus on key provisions such as procurement items and allocated amounts. As the bill has passed the one-month negotiation cooling-off period, the Legislative Yuan may handle it as early as the 8th.
Matt Pottinger, who served as Deputy National Security Advisor during Trump 1.0, and Seamus Boyle, Senior Specialist at risk consulting firm Garnaut Global, published an article titled "The KMT Risks Missing the Lessons of the Ukraine and Iran Wars" in Commonwealth Magazine on the 7th.
The Legislative Yuan will hold a crucial vote on the special defense budget. The article stated, "The Kuomintang has an opportunity to prove to Taiwanese voters and to partners like the United States who have doubts about it, that it takes Taiwan's national security seriously and can pass a meaningful defense budget, but they are almost messing up this opportunity."
The article pointed out that the KMT leadership advocates limiting the budget for announced arms sales to NT$380 billion, while the NT$800 billion version promoted by KMT legislator Hsu Chiao-hsin and others is a better alternative. However, even so, this plan still does not include key items such as domestic drone manufacturing, missile defense, and AI-driven command and control systems. As revealed by the Russia-Ukraine war and the Iran war, these capabilities are crucial for Taiwan's defense.
The article pointed out that if the Legislative Yuan fails to pass the budget to pay for U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, Taiwan will face the risk of sacrificing military equipment such as the HIMARS multiple rocket launcher system, which has proven its value on the Ukrainian battlefield. These military assets may therefore be redirected to other U.S. partners, leading to Taiwan being unable to obtain the necessary combat power in the coming years.
The article wrote that if the Legislative Yuan, especially the divided opposition camp, can draw on the experiences of the Ukraine war and the Iran war and implement them during the vote, it will enhance Taiwan's ability to deter aggression and respond to Beijing with strength.
The article emphasized that Ukraine and Iran mass-produced drones, which helped them counter naval powers. If Taiwan can urgently mass-produce drones and possess the ability to continuously produce and rapidly improve designs, then the Chinese navy in the Taiwan Strait will also be constrained by these capabilities.
In addition, the article called on Taiwanese legislators to note the importance of multi-layered air defense systems for Ukraine and Middle Eastern countries. Multi-layered air defense systems consist of high-end interceptors like Patriot missiles, combined with low-cost solutions such as electronic jammers and anti-drone rockets.
The article pointed out that legislators must also realize that having strong offensive capabilities, not just defensive capabilities, is a wise move. Taiwan should procure HIMARS multiple rocket launcher systems and develop more long-range missiles and drones to have the ability to strike targets in mainland China. If Beijing intends to attack Taiwan, Taiwan also needs to have the means to retaliate.
The article emphasized that deterrence requires "assurances," such as those Taiwan's opposition parties try to offer Beijing in cross-strait dialogue, but also "credible military threats." The Russia-Ukraine war and the Iran war have shown Taiwanese legislators what weapons should be procured and manufactured, and what steps should be taken to protect Taiwan's democracy. "Now, they must act." (Editor: Chen Hui-ping) 1150508
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(Washington, May 7, Central News Agency reporter Hou Tzu-ying) The Legislative Yuan is expected to vote on the national defense special bill as early as the 8th. Former U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor Matt Pottinger and others published an article analyzing the practical lessons from the battlefields of Ukraine and the Middle East, and urged Taiwanese legislators that if they can draw on relevant military experience and implement it during the vote, it will enhance Taiwan's ability to deter aggression.
President Lai Ching-te proposed an additional defense budget of US$40 billion (approximately NT$1.25 trillion) over eight years last year to counter China, but it was obstructed by the opposition camp led by the Kuomintang (KMT), which pushed for a KMT version with a reduced amount.
Legislative Yuan President Han Kuo-yu has repeatedly convened cross-party negotiations on the national defense special bill, but has yet to reach a consensus on key provisions such as procurement items and allocated amounts. As the bill has passed the one-month negotiation cooling-off period, the Legislative Yuan may handle it as early as the 8th.
Matt Pottinger, who served as Deputy National Security Advisor during Trump 1.0, and Seamus Boyle, Senior Specialist at risk consulting firm Garnaut Global, published an article titled "The KMT Risks Missing the Lessons of the Ukraine and Iran Wars" in Commonwealth Magazine on the 7th.
The Legislative Yuan will hold a crucial vote on the special defense budget. The article stated, "The Kuomintang has an opportunity to prove to Taiwanese voters and to partners like the United States who have doubts about it, that it takes Taiwan's national security seriously and can pass a meaningful defense budget, but they are almost messing up this opportunity."
The article pointed out that the KMT leadership advocates limiting the budget for announced arms sales to NT$380 billion, while the NT$800 billion version promoted by KMT legislator Hsu Chiao-hsin and others is a better alternative. However, even so, this plan still does not include key items such as domestic drone manufacturing, missile defense, and AI-driven command and control systems. As revealed by the Russia-Ukraine war and the Iran war, these capabilities are crucial for Taiwan's defense.
The article pointed out that if the Legislative Yuan fails to pass the budget to pay for U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, Taiwan will face the risk of sacrificing military equipment such as the HIMARS multiple rocket launcher system, which has proven its value on the Ukrainian battlefield. These military assets may therefore be redirected to other U.S. partners, leading to Taiwan being unable to obtain the necessary combat power in the coming years.
The article wrote that if the Legislative Yuan, especially the divided opposition camp, can draw on the experiences of the Ukraine war and the Iran war and implement them during the vote, it will enhance Taiwan's ability to deter aggression and respond to Beijing with strength.
The article emphasized that Ukraine and Iran mass-produced drones, which helped them counter naval powers. If Taiwan can urgently mass-produce drones and possess the ability to continuously produce and rapidly improve designs, then the Chinese navy in the Taiwan Strait will also be constrained by these capabilities.
In addition, the article called on Taiwanese legislators to note the importance of multi-layered air defense systems for Ukraine and Middle Eastern countries. Multi-layered air defense systems consist of high-end interceptors like Patriot missiles, combined with low-cost solutions such as electronic jammers and anti-drone rockets.
The article pointed out that legislators must also realize that having strong offensive capabilities, not just defensive capabilities, is a wise move. Taiwan should procure HIMARS multiple rocket launcher systems and develop more long-range missiles and drones to have the ability to strike targets in mainland China. If Beijing intends to attack Taiwan, Taiwan also needs to have the means to retaliate.
The article emphasized that deterrence requires "assurances," such as those Taiwan's opposition parties try to offer Beijing in cross-strait dialogue, but also "credible military threats." The Russia-Ukraine war and the Iran war have shown Taiwanese legislators what weapons should be procured and manufactured, and what steps should be taken to protect Taiwan's democracy. "Now, they must act." (Editor: Chen Hui-ping) 1150508
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency "First-hand News" APP to grasp the latest news instantly.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.