Taiwan's opposition-controlled legislature approved a six-year drone buying program, a win for the opposition parties and local drone makers but a setback for the government, which wanted faster, bigger funding.

• The law directs the defense ministry to buy cheap, high-performance Taiwanese-made drones, capping spending at NT$240 billion over six years.
• The opposition Kuomintang and Taiwan People's Party pushed the money through yearly budgets instead of the Cabinet's proposed special budget, arguing drone tech changes too fast for one big upfront purchase.
• The defense ministry said it regrets losing the special budget, warning the slower funding path will delay key combat capabilities.
• A late compromise added coastal attack drones, reconnaissance drones and small suicide sea drones the military had asked for.
• The law also creates test sites, rules on what counts as locally made, and a Cabinet-level committee — which ruling-party lawmakers call a security risk that could let Beijing gather intelligence.

Outlook: The Cabinet says it will work within the annual budget system, but fights over funding speed and the new oversight committee are likely to continue.