Taiwan's opposition-controlled legislature approved a big push to build and buy homegrown drones, a win for local defense manufacturers and a signal of how seriously Taipei is taking the threat from China.

• The bill sets a spending ceiling of about US$7.6 billion for buying Taiwan-made drones, with more money possible if lawmakers sign off.
• It passed 60 to 50, driven by the opposition rather than the government.
• Beyond weapons, the law sets rules for the whole drone industry — test sites, how much must be made in Taiwan, and cybersecurity standards.
• The goal is defense self-reliance: building the hardware at home instead of depending on foreign suppliers.

Outlook: Expect Taiwanese drone makers to line up for contracts while Beijing treats the buildup as another provocation.