Taiwan's government is pushing through a large extra spending package to rearm quickly, a direct challenge to opposition lawmakers who cut defense money earlier this year.

• The Cabinet approved an extra budget worth about US$19 billion, restoring billions the opposition had struck out.
• A big chunk goes to drones — more than 40,000 coastal attack drones, 600 reconnaissance drones and 100 unmanned boats, mostly arriving in 2027.
• The package also buys a homegrown missile system built to shoot down Chinese ballistic missiles at high altitude, plus emergency ammunition stockpiles and classified projects believed tied to joint work with the US.
• The biggest single slice is not defense at all: the state oil company gets a large bailout after years of losses from government-capped fuel prices.
• The fight is not over — the premier has refused to sign off on opposition-backed laws before, and this new drone act still needs his signature.

Outlook: Expect more clashes between the Cabinet and the opposition-controlled legislature over how much Taiwan spends on defense and who controls it.