In 2025, based on extensive discussions with the Taiwan military, Taiwan President Lai Ching-te proposed an eight-year NT$1.25 trillion special defense budget. President Lai and the Taiwan Ministry of National Defense (MND) say that the full amount is necessary to defend Taiwan. However, the opposition parties have resisted the proposal, instead offering less expensive counter-proposals – ranging from NT$380 billion to NT$400 billion. These proposals would cover the U.S. $11.1 billion in Foreign Military Sales notified to Congress in December 2025, but would not provide enough funding for additional U.S. weapons purchases or domestic unmanned programs. The discussion has dragged out in the Legislative Yuan (LY) through the beginning of 2026.

On April 20, 2026, MND testified to the LY’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee, and released a public version of a report on their implementation plan for the Special Act for the Procurement Program to Enhance Defense Resilience and Asymmetric Capabilities. While many portions of the public report were redacted, it still offers a glimpse into the Taiwan government’s thinking about military procurement.

MND offered the following summary of their intent with the report:

In accordance with the resolution reached at the Standing Committee meeting on April 15th, we are presenting a special report to the Legislative Yuan Committee on the implementation plan of the Special Act, so that all members can directly understand the procurement plan for this special budget. We respectfully request your guidance to facilitate the subsequent review process.

This special budget is a comprehensive plan proposed by the Ministry of National Defense in response to the current enemy situation and based on overall operational needs. Leveraging the characteristics of the special budget – “concentrated resources and stable scale” – we will procure key combat equipment in one go through military procurement, commercial procurement, and contract manufacturing to enhance the overall combat capability of the national armed forces and achieve the goal of safeguarding national security with strength.

2026.04.20 – MND Special Report (Machine Translated)

2026.04.20 – MND Special Report (Original Chinese Text)

2026.04.21 – Liberty Times Translated Article About the Special Report