Taiwan's parliament failed to agree on a drone and unmanned systems bill, setting up a floor vote showdown — bad news for a quick start on drone spending, and a sign of how deep the divide runs between the ruling party and the opposition.

• Cross-party talks led by Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu broke down over three questions: which ministry leads, how the money is budgeted, and how much.
• The opposition KMT wants NT$2.4 trillion‑scale funding of NT$240 billion spread over six years through the regular annual budget, with yearly legislative oversight.
• The ruling DPP wants a special multi-year bill instead, arguing that lets the defense ministry plan long-term, and says the economics ministry should lead since this is about industry and local production.
• The smaller TPP backs the defense ministry for procurement and security screening but sides with the opposition on using the annual budget, with no fixed sum written in.
• With typhoon Sadel approaching, the parties moved the sitting up by a day, so the bill goes to a vote sooner than planned.

Outlook: A contested floor vote is expected, and the opposition's combined majority means their annual-budget version is likely to prevail.