Manuel Mogato | September 5, 2026
TAIPEI — Taiwan has proposed an additional $4.59 billion in defence spending for 2026, including systems for drones and anti-ballistic missiles, to counter military pressure from China.
In May, Taiwan’s opposition-controlled parliament approved additional defense spending of $25 billion, about two-thirds of what the government had sought in a special budget, and only for spending on U.S. weapons. (Also read: Taiwan raises defense spending to build air defense to counter China’s threats)
Following a weekly meeting, Taiwan’s Cabinet said, “there can be no gap in national defense”, and plans for a special budget were now being incorporated into this year’s new supplementary budget.
Taiwan plans to acquire a medium-tier, anti-tactical ballistic missile system, a locally developed Strong Bow missile. (Also read: Preparing for a humanitarian crisis if conflict erupts in Taiwan)
Spending plans also incorporate more than 600 coastal surveillance and reconnaissance drones, over 40,000 coastal attack drones, and the first batch of over 100 small suicide drone boats, Reuters reported.
“National security cannot wait, the defence budget cannot wait, and defence self-reliance cannot wait either,” Reuters reported, quoting the Taiwan Cabinet.
Last month, parliament approved a six-year plan to spend $240 billion on drones, which in principle sets annual spending at $40 billion, and rejected a competing government plan for $210 billion.
For next year, the government has proposed overall defence spending to top $1 trillion for the first time.
Taiwan, like U.S. allies in Europe and elsewhere, faces calls from Washington to spend more on its own defense, something President Lai Ching-te has enthusiastically embraced.
Lai has also rejected Beijing’s sovereignty claims, saying only the island’s people can decide their future.
