Taiwan drone bill heads to final vote amid budget fight
Taiwan's parliament is set for a showdown vote on a drone development bill, with the cabinet warning that lawmakers are overstepping their constitutional role.
- The legislature is voting on 14 competing versions of a drone and unmanned vehicle bill.
- Premier Cho Jung-tai insists the defense ministry must control the special drone budget, since it is about building Taiwan's own weapons.
- The ruling DPP wants a special bill; the opposition KMT and TPP want the money handled through the regular annual budget instead.
- Cho's core objection: lawmakers should not use a law to force spending decisions, because the cabinet sets policy and the legislature reviews it.
- Talks led by the speaker broke down with no agreement, so the outcome comes down to raw votes.
Outlook: The opposition holds the numbers, so a version the cabinet dislikes is likely to pass, deepening the fight between Taiwan's executive and legislature.