Arms procurement act passes; US supports but says delaying other funds may be a concession to China
Taiwan's Legislative Yuan passed a NT$780 billion special arms procurement act. The US State Department supports Taiwan's acquisition of critical defense capabilities but warned that further delaying funding for other planned defense capabilities is a "concession to the Chinese Communist Party."
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- 📰 Published: May 9, 2026 at 09:27
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(Central News Agency reporter Hou Tzu-ying, Washington, 8th) The Legislative Yuan passed a NT$780 billion special arms procurement act. The US State Department today responded to a question from a Central News Agency reporter, stating that the US supports Taiwan's acquisition of critical defense capabilities commensurate with the threats it faces. However, it also pointed out that further delaying funding for other planned defense capabilities is a "concession to the Chinese Communist Party."
The Legislative Yuan passed the "Special Act for the Procurement of National Security and Asymmetric Warfare Capability Enhancement Plans" concerning arms procurement from the US, with a total budget ceiling of NT$780 billion, of which the first wave of US arms procurement budget ceiling is NT$300 billion, and the second wave is NT$480 billion.
In response, a spokesperson for the US State Department replied to a reporter's question via email on background, stating that the US supports Taiwan's acquisition of critical defense capabilities commensurate with the threats it faces, which is consistent with the Taiwan Relations Act and the commitments of successive US administrations for over 45 years.
The spokesperson also said: "While we are encouraged by the passage of this special defense budget after unhelpful delays, the United States notes that further delaying funding for other planned capabilities is a concession to the Chinese Communist Party."
President Lai Ching-te last year proposed an additional defense budget of US$40 billion (approximately NT$1.25 trillion) over eight years to counter China, but this was blocked by the Kuomintang-led opposition, which pushed for a scaled-down KMT version of the proposal.
The Ministry of National Defense pointed out that the Legislative Yuan's passage of the NT$780 billion arms procurement act completely excluded commercial procurements and commissioned cases, which harms the integrity of national defense construction planning. (Editor: Chen Hui-ping) 1150509
The Legislative Yuan passed the "Special Act for the Procurement of National Security and Asymmetric Warfare Capability Enhancement Plans" concerning arms procurement from the US, with a total budget ceiling of NT$780 billion, of which the first wave of US arms procurement budget ceiling is NT$300 billion, and the second wave is NT$480 billion.
In response, a spokesperson for the US State Department replied to a reporter's question via email on background, stating that the US supports Taiwan's acquisition of critical defense capabilities commensurate with the threats it faces, which is consistent with the Taiwan Relations Act and the commitments of successive US administrations for over 45 years.
The spokesperson also said: "While we are encouraged by the passage of this special defense budget after unhelpful delays, the United States notes that further delaying funding for other planned capabilities is a concession to the Chinese Communist Party."
President Lai Ching-te last year proposed an additional defense budget of US$40 billion (approximately NT$1.25 trillion) over eight years to counter China, but this was blocked by the Kuomintang-led opposition, which pushed for a scaled-down KMT version of the proposal.
The Ministry of National Defense pointed out that the Legislative Yuan's passage of the NT$780 billion arms procurement act completely excluded commercial procurements and commissioned cases, which harms the integrity of national defense construction planning. (Editor: Chen Hui-ping) 1150509