Taiwan is racing to buy homegrown drones and missiles with a large extra defense budget, a move that would strengthen the island's defenses but only if lawmakers approve the money quickly.

• Taiwan's cabinet has asked parliament for an extra defense package worth about NT$146 billion, most of it for weapons.
• The biggest chunks go to coastal surveillance drones, mid-range anti-missile systems, and two classified programs.
• The defense ministry has already finished briefing suppliers and says it can hit its first drone-warfare target by 2027 once the money clears.
• Taiwan's first homemade submarine is still in testing at the shipyard, with the builder being fined daily until delivery and no handover date set.
• On reports that a $14 billion US arms package to Taiwan has stalled, the ministry says Washington has repeatedly confirmed its Taiwan policy is unchanged after the Trump-Xi meeting.

Outlook: The spending hinges on how fast parliament moves, and the ministry is doing paperwork in advance so purchases can start the day it passes.