Taiwan's legislature is set to pass a new drone and unmanned vehicle law this week, and the ruling party is warning that opposition amendments could slow both defense buildup and a fast-growing industry.

• Lawmakers failed to agree across 14 competing drafts, so the whole bill was held over for a final push on August 28.
• The opposition KMT and TPP, who together control the chamber, say they will merge their versions into one.
• The ruling DPP wants the cabinet's version, arguing extra approval hurdles dressed up as oversight would tie the government's hands.
• The stakes are military: drones are central to Taiwan's plan to counter China with cheaper, harder-to-hit weapons.
• There is a business angle too, as global buyers hunt for drone suppliers outside China and Taiwan wants firms to invest with predictable multi-year funding.

Outlook: A version of the law looks likely to pass on August 28, with the fight now over how many strings are attached.