News - South China Morning Post
· collected 2026-09-03 · by Lawrence Chung
Taiwan's cabinet approved a supplementary defense budget of NT$145.7 billion, pushing this year's total defense spending over NT$1 trillion for the first time. The additional funding brings overall defense spending to around 3.83% of Taiwan's GDP, up from 3.32%. The funds will be invested in missiles, drones, and two classified programs totaling NT$64.5 billion. The supplementary budget still requires legislative approval after opposition lawmakers previously cut NT$470 billion from an initial defense package proposal.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-03,
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Story summary
Taiwan's defense spending has exceeded NT$1 trillion ($4.6 billion USD) for the first time, thanks to a supplementary budget of NT$145.7 billion ($4.6 billion USD) approved by the cabinet on Thursday. The additional funding will raise this year's overall defense spending from 3.32% of gross domestic product (GDP) to about 3.83%, the highest level in decades. The supplementary budget is aimed at plugging gaps left after opposition lawmakers cut NT$470 billion in May from an eight-year special defense package proposed by the government. Two classified programs will account for NT$64.5 billion** of the supplementary budget, which still requires legislative approval before it can be finalized.
Written for “Taiwan Defence Spending Increases” on 2026-09-03,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
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Leaning score +0.15 for article 3482 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-09-03
Extra funds push Taiwan’s defence spending past NT$1 trillion for the first time
The island’s cabinet approves supplementary budget, with heavy investment in missiles, drones and classified programmes
Taiwan’s cabinet approved a supplementary defence budget of NT$145.7 billion (US$4.6 billion) on Thursday, pushing the island’s total defence-related spending for this year above NT$1 trillion for the first time.
The additional funding is expected to raise this year’s overall defence spending from 3.32 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) to about 3.83 per cent, the highest level in decades.
asserted
funding → push → decades
The supplementary budget, which still requires legislative approval, is aimed at plugging gaps left after opposition lawmakers cut NT$470 billion in May from an eight-year NT$1.25 trillion special defence package proposed by the government.
uncertain
lawmakers → require → government
Two classified programmes would account for NT$64.5 billion.
asserted
programmes → classify → billion
