Taiwan's Parliament Cuts the Defence Budget. Washington Calls It a Concession.

Sat, 09 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The Reuters dispatch landed on the same day as the Taiwan presidential office was still processing the parliamentary vote.

US concerned by Taiwan defence delay 'concession' to China https://t.co/Tc9N9g1P7k https://t.co/Tc9N9g1P7k
— Reuters (@Reuters) May 9, 2026

The facts are straightforward. Taiwan President Lai Ching-te had sought $40 billion in supplementary defence spending to better deter China. After repeated delays by opposition parties, who hold the majority of seats, parliament approved only two-thirds of the money requested—all of it earmarked for US weapons, with domestically developed drones and missiles excluded from the package.

Defence Budget on Taiwan Strait

Taiwan's Parliament Cuts the Defence Budget. Washington Calls It a Concession.