Military budget bill meetings beginBELEAGUERED BILLS The Cabinet’s NT$1.25 trillion special budget will contend with the TPP and KMT’s considerably smaller proposals in committee meetingsStaff writer, with CNAThe Legislative Yuan is expected to host tense debates when it begins reviewing three competing special budget bills on arms procurement today, including a Cabinet proposal totaling NT$1.25 trillion (US$39.1 billion). The ruling and opposition legislative caucuses were expected to make sure all of their members on the Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee would attend. The Cabinet’s version of the national defense special act spans eight years and a budget of NT$1.25 trillion. Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo (顧立雄) has said that such a timetable was not realistic and would effectively block major procurement programs, including the HIMARS launchers. The MND has said that military investment planning follows a program-based budgeting system and that any version of the special budget act must comply with this system to be implemented.

Source: Taipei Times March 22, 2026 16:38 UTC