Taiwan Parliament Approves Extra Defence Spending but Less Than Government Wanted

Taiwan parliament speaker Han Kuo-yu announces approval of a $25 billion special defence spending bill in Taipei, Taiwan, on May 8, 2026. Ann Wang/ReutersTAIPEI—Taiwan’s opposition-controlled parliament approved extra defence spending of $25 billion on Friday, ‌or just about two-thirds of the amount sought by the government to bolster the armed forces in the face of a ‌rapidly modernising Chinese military.Taiwan President Lai Ching-te had wanted a ⁠T$1.25 trillion ($39.81 billion) supplementary defence package approved, including money for U.S. arms but also for domestically made equipment such as drones to increase deterrence against China, which views the ​island as its own territory.