Taiwan's government has approved a large supplementary budget aimed at defense, energy subsidies and welfare payments, good news for pensioners and public workers but dependent on a divided legislature.

• The extra spending covers weapons, drones and ammunition, plus classified military programs, framed as too urgent to delay.
• The biggest slice goes to holding down gas, electricity and cooking-fuel prices, a response to unrest in the Middle East pushing energy costs up.
• Millions of people are waiting on backdated raises: farmer allowances, national pension payments, six welfare benefits and pay bumps for soldiers, civil servants and teachers.
• Smaller amounts go to rebuilding after the Hualien barrier-lake disaster and to handling African swine fever losses, with a new child allowance starting next year.
• Officials say higher revenue offsets the spending, so borrowing this year will actually be lower than first planned.

Outlook: The package now goes to the legislature, where opposition parties control the vote and the timing of these payments.