Taipei, Taiwan - Taiwanese lawmakers on Thursday approved a $7.6 billion budget for locally made drones as the island democracy seeks to strengthen its defense against China and address concerns raised by the US.
Taiwan has ramped up military spending in recent years and is building up its defense industry to make more equipment and ammunition domestically, as threats of a potential invasion by China grow.
Attempts to increase spending and bolster the country's military have been stymied over recent months, largely because the Kuomintang (KMT) and Taiwan People's Party (TPP) have repeatedly blocked legislation proposed by President Lai Ching-te's governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
Under pressure from US lawmakers to continue efforts to boost spending – especially on drones – a proposal backed by the KMT and TPP finally cleared parliament on Thursday, after an earlier plan submitted by the DPP was rejected.
Lai's government wants Taiwan to be able to produce enough drones on its own to repel a potential attack from China.
But he has repeatedly clashed with the opposition, which controls parliament, over how much to spend on improving the island's defenses and how it should be funded.
Lai's government wanted to allocate up to $6.6 billion in a special budget for Taiwan-made unmanned vehicles, including coastal surveillance, attack, and surface drones.
The spending would have been spread out over more than five years and overseen by the defense ministry.
The KMT, which favors closer ties with China, and the TPP, instead backed a proposal for roughly $7.6 billion in spending over six years that would be included in the annual budget.
Cabinet spokesperson Michelle Lee said later that, although the government's version was not supported, it will "make every possible effort to secure the necessary funding as soon as possible" for drone procurement.
"National security cannot afford delays," Lee said.