Taiwan's Cabinet faces a Friday deadline on whether to countersign an opposition-backed law to boost domestic defense and the drone industry, a test of how far the government will go along with the KMT-controlled legislature.

• The legislature passed the KMT's bill to strengthen defense self-reliance and build up Taiwan's drone industry.
• The Cabinet received the bill on September 2 and has until September 11 to countersign it, as the constitution gives 10 days.
• The Cabinet is staying tight-lipped, saying only that review of the text and how to carry it out is in its final stage.
• Refusing to sign would set up another clash with the opposition majority in parliament, which has repeatedly overridden the government this year.
• The government already has its own plan: a supplementary budget passed on September 3 puts about NT$145.7 billion into defense, including coastal surveillance drones.

Outlook: A decision lands Friday, and either signing or refusing will shape the next round of the fight between the Cabinet and the KMT-led legislature over defense spending.