Taiwan's government is preparing a large add-on to this year's budget, with money to cushion households from Middle East–driven price shocks and a still-open defense line — good for consumers and pensioners, uncertain for taxpayers.

• The Cabinet will finalize next year's central budget on the 20th, alongside a supplementary budget covering eight categories.
• The biggest item is about NT$100 billion to hold down prices during the Middle East conflict — subsidies for gasoline, diesel, natural gas, household gas, air and bus fares, taxi fuel, plus fertilizer and fishing costs.
• Pay raises for military, civil servants, and teachers add about NT$10.7 billion, and higher pensions and welfare payments for 3.18 million people add about NT$21.5 billion, both backdated to July.
• Defense is the wild card — items left out of earlier special spending bills could add an estimated NT$260 billion, but the final figure depends on the defense ministry's review.
• Smaller sums cover African swine fever cleanup, a new child allowance, and post-disaster rebuilding after the Matai'an barrier lake flooding.

Outlook: The final total still hinges on last-minute talks between the presidential office and the Cabinet before the plan is locked in.