{
  "id": 5342319,
  "title": "Extra funds push Taiwan’s defence spending past NT$1 trillion for the first time",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/extra-funds-push-taiwans-defence-spending-past-nt-1-trillion-for-the-5342319",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-03T14:00:08.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "South China Morning Post",
    "slug": "south-china-morning-post",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3366266/extra-funds-push-taiwans-defence-spending-past-nt1-trillion-first-time"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Taiwan's cabinet approved a supplementary defence budget of NT$145.7 billion on Thursday, surpassing the island's total defence-related spending for the year to exceed NT$1 trillion for the first time. This increase will raise overall defence spending to about 3.83 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP), the highest level in decades. The budget, which still needs legislative approval, aims to fill gaps left after opposition lawmakers reduced an eight-year NT$1.25 trillion special defence package by NT$470 billion in May. The additional funds would go towards military investment, uncrewed-system programmes, classified programmes, ammunition replenishment and combat-unit allowances. Premier Cho Jung-tai stated that the supplementary funding was crucial as defence procurement could not be allowed to stall after lawmakers cut the original special defence package. He also expressed hope that the additional funding would allow Taiwan to acquire over 600 coastal surveillance drones, more than 40,000 coastal attack drones, and an initial batch of over 100 small suicide unmanned surface vessels by next year, thereby enhancing the island's asymmetric warfare capabilities.",
  "summary": "Taiwan’s cabinet approved a supplementary defence budget of NT$145.7 billion (US$4.6 billion) on Thursday, pushing the island’s total defence-related spending for this year above NT$1 trillion for the first time. The additional funding is expected to raise this year’s overall defence spending from 3.32 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) to about 3.83 per cent, the highest level in decades.…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Reuters Business via SCMP",
        "title": "Extra funds push Taiwan’s defence spending past NT$1 trillion for the first time",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/extra-funds-push-taiwans-defence-spending-past-nt-1-trillion-for-the",
        "published": "2026-09-03T14:00:08.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}