Legislative Yuan passes NT$780 billion arms procurement act, Ministry of National Defense: Highly likely to cause capability gaps
Taiwan's Legislative Yuan passed a special act for military procurement totaling NT$780 billion for US arms purchases. However, the Ministry of National Defense expressed concern that the exclusion of commercial purchases and commissioned manufacturing would undermine the integrity of defense planning and could easily lead to capability gaps, stating it would actively formulate response plans to minimize the impact.
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- 📰 Published: May 8, 2026 at 22:12
- 🔍 Collected: May 8, 2026 at 22:31 (19 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 8, 2026 at 23:35 (1h 3m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Wu Shu-Wei, Taipei, 8th) The Ministry of National Defense pointed out that the Legislative Yuan today passed the "Special Act for National Security Protection and Asymmetric Warfare Capability Enhancement Plan Procurement," which allocates a maximum of NT$780 billion for US arms purchases. The act completely excludes commercial purchases and commissioned manufacturing projects, which undermines the integrity of national defense construction planning and is highly likely to cause capability gaps. The Ministry will actively formulate response plans to minimize the impact.
After a vote, the Legislative Yuan today passed the "Special Act for National Security Protection and Asymmetric Warfare Capability Enhancement Plan Procurement," which concerns US arms purchases, with a total budget ceiling of NT$780 billion. The first wave of US arms purchases has a budget ceiling of NT$300 billion, and the second wave has a budget ceiling of NT$480 billion.
Regarding the important excluded items and potential impacts of the "Special Act for National Security Protection and Asymmetric Warfare Capability Enhancement Plan Procurement," the Ministry of National Defense stated in a press release tonight that the "Strong Bow Medium-Range Anti-Ballistic Missile," originally planned to be developed by CSIST, is the backbone for building Taiwan's shield. If it cannot be acquired in time after being removed from the special budget, it will severely affect air defense combat effectiveness.
The Ministry of National Defense stated that the four types of drones—Rei-Yuan II maritime search tactical unmanned aerial vehicles, vertical take-off and landing unmanned aerial vehicles, coastal surveillance unmanned aerial vehicles, and coastal attack unmanned aerial vehicles—as well as small suicide drones, portable anti-drone systems, and mobile obstruction equipment, are not only critical combat capabilities for defensive operations but also cornerstones for establishing a domestic drone industry chain and solidifying independent national defense capabilities. Their complete removal will significantly delay the military's asymmetric warfare capability building schedule and affect the development of the domestic drone industry, leading to a loss of anticipated economic growth benefits and job opportunities.
The Ministry of National Defense explained that the military urgently needs to acquire AI-assisted intelligence decision-making modules, Tactical Assault Kit (TAK), and Taiwan Tactical Network (TTN), which help improve combat decision-making and establish a common operating picture. Their exclusion from the special act will delay the military's artificial intelligence development and hinder the construction of a complete kill chain.
The Ministry of National Defense mentioned that considering the need for a large amount of ammunition for peacetime training consumption and wartime blockade, the originally allocated items such as "new (expanded) production lines for military equipment production capacity" and procurement of "general ammunition" have all been removed. This will impact the expansion of production capacity and may not meet the military's needs for exercises and combat readiness missions.
As for "equipment and systems for joint research and development and procurement cooperation between Taiwan and the US," the Ministry of National Defense explained that this is an innovative cooperation mechanism between Taiwan and the US to ensure regional security, which is conducive to Taiwan's rapid introduction of emerging technologies. Its exclusion from the special budget is detrimental to the overall promotion of the project and the growth of Taiwan's operational resilience and asymmetric warfare capabilities.
The Ministry of National Defense emphasized that Taiwan faces severe and continuously escalating threats from the enemy. The military must immediately strengthen its asymmetric warfare capabilities, which can execute multi-layered weakening. However, the annual budget for military investment is currently at its peak payment period, with no room for new projects. The military, based on its heavy responsibility to defend national security, will actively formulate response plans for items not included in the special act and communicate with the Legislative Yuan to minimize the impact and ensure that soldiers have more complete combat capabilities to protect national security. (Editor: Chang Jo-Yao) 1150508
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(Central News Agency reporter Wu Shu-Wei, Taipei, 8th) The Ministry of National Defense pointed out that the Legislative Yuan today passed the "Special Act for National Security Protection and Asymmetric Warfare Capability Enhancement Plan Procurement," which allocates a maximum of NT$780 billion for US arms purchases. The act completely excludes commercial purchases and commissioned manufacturing projects, which undermines the integrity of national defense construction planning and is highly likely to cause capability gaps. The Ministry will actively formulate response plans to minimize the impact.
After a vote, the Legislative Yuan today passed the "Special Act for National Security Protection and Asymmetric Warfare Capability Enhancement Plan Procurement," which concerns US arms purchases, with a total budget ceiling of NT$780 billion. The first wave of US arms purchases has a budget ceiling of NT$300 billion, and the second wave has a budget ceiling of NT$480 billion.
Regarding the important excluded items and potential impacts of the "Special Act for National Security Protection and Asymmetric Warfare Capability Enhancement Plan Procurement," the Ministry of National Defense stated in a press release tonight that the "Strong Bow Medium-Range Anti-Ballistic Missile," originally planned to be developed by CSIST, is the backbone for building Taiwan's shield. If it cannot be acquired in time after being removed from the special budget, it will severely affect air defense combat effectiveness.
The Ministry of National Defense stated that the four types of drones—Rei-Yuan II maritime search tactical unmanned aerial vehicles, vertical take-off and landing unmanned aerial vehicles, coastal surveillance unmanned aerial vehicles, and coastal attack unmanned aerial vehicles—as well as small suicide drones, portable anti-drone systems, and mobile obstruction equipment, are not only critical combat capabilities for defensive operations but also cornerstones for establishing a domestic drone industry chain and solidifying independent national defense capabilities. Their complete removal will significantly delay the military's asymmetric warfare capability building schedule and affect the development of the domestic drone industry, leading to a loss of anticipated economic growth benefits and job opportunities.
The Ministry of National Defense explained that the military urgently needs to acquire AI-assisted intelligence decision-making modules, Tactical Assault Kit (TAK), and Taiwan Tactical Network (TTN), which help improve combat decision-making and establish a common operating picture. Their exclusion from the special act will delay the military's artificial intelligence development and hinder the construction of a complete kill chain.
The Ministry of National Defense mentioned that considering the need for a large amount of ammunition for peacetime training consumption and wartime blockade, the originally allocated items such as "new (expanded) production lines for military equipment production capacity" and procurement of "general ammunition" have all been removed. This will impact the expansion of production capacity and may not meet the military's needs for exercises and combat readiness missions.
As for "equipment and systems for joint research and development and procurement cooperation between Taiwan and the US," the Ministry of National Defense explained that this is an innovative cooperation mechanism between Taiwan and the US to ensure regional security, which is conducive to Taiwan's rapid introduction of emerging technologies. Its exclusion from the special budget is detrimental to the overall promotion of the project and the growth of Taiwan's operational resilience and asymmetric warfare capabilities.
The Ministry of National Defense emphasized that Taiwan faces severe and continuously escalating threats from the enemy. The military must immediately strengthen its asymmetric warfare capabilities, which can execute multi-layered weakening. However, the annual budget for military investment is currently at its peak payment period, with no room for new projects. The military, based on its heavy responsibility to defend national security, will actively formulate response plans for items not included in the special act and communicate with the Legislative Yuan to minimize the impact and ensure that soldiers have more complete combat capabilities to protect national security. (Editor: Chang Jo-Yao) 1150508
Choose to stand with facts; every sponsorship you provide is a force for protecting press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency's "First-hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.