Taiwan's 2026 central government budget is finally law after the opposition-controlled legislature held it up for nearly a year — a relief for government agencies, but a sign of how deep the political gridlock in Taipei runs.

• President Lai Ching-te signed and published the budget today, more than eight months past the legal year-end deadline.
• The KMT and Taiwan People's Party majority stalled the bill in the legislature for 351 days before passing it in mid-August.
• Agencies had been running on emergency spending rules in the meantime, leaving civil servants and programs in limbo.
• Lai attached two notes to the signing, including one confirming that money spent under those stopgap rules was legal and should be handled properly.

Outlook: The budget fight is over for this year, but the same opposition majority still controls the legislature, so expect more clashes over defense and government spending ahead.