Taiwan's vice president is pressing lawmakers to fund a large drone buildup, warning that cutting the budget would be dangerous for the island.

• Hsiao Bi-khim says Taiwan cannot let Beijing misjudge its will to defend itself.
• A special bill would spend up to NT$210 billion over several years on coastal surveillance drones, attack drones, and small suicide drone boats.
• Parliament is deadlocked — 14 competing versions of the bill are on the table and talks broke down.
• The argument draws on Ukraine: Putin invaded because he thought he could win fast, and drones have since become the core weapon in both Ukraine and the Middle East.
• Weakening Taiwan's cheap, asymmetric weapons would lower the bar for China to attack, rather than raise it.

Outlook: Legislative speaker Han Kuo-yu is convening cross-party talks, with a final vote on the drone bill possible within days.