Taiwan's opposition-controlled legislature passed a drone funding law that could slow the island's push to arm itself with cheap unmanned weapons — bad news for Taiwan's defense readiness against China.

• The law replaces the government's big multi-year drone budget with yearly spending capped at a lower level, so funding has to be re-approved every year.
• Drone technology changes every few weeks, and a one-year delay could cost Taiwan more than a dozen rounds of improvements.
• Because the opposition controls the legislature and keeps clashing with the government, each year's drone money could become a political bargaining chip.
• The new law also stretches the money across industry development, research, and cybersecurity, which could pull cash away from the weapons the military needs first.
• With global demand for drones high, Taiwan may lose production slots to countries that can commit bigger money faster.

Outlook: Expect annual budget fights over drone money, with delivery of coastal surveillance drones, attack drones, and suicide sea drones at risk of slipping.