Defense autonomy at risk if drone budget is stalled

SAME PAGE: Despite opposition lawmakers’ suggestions, Taiwan’s defense and economic interests are aligned on drones, as large orders would stimulate the industry By Chen Yun and Jonathan Chin / Staff reporter, with staff writer Add TT as Preferred Source Forcing drone procurement into the annual budget cycle could cripple Taiwan’s defense autonomy and deter the domestic drone industry from investing in crucial “non-red” supply chains, a national security official said yesterday, following a breakdown in negotiations over a special budget for uncrewed systems.Earlier in the day, the Legislative Yuan’s Economics Committee failed to reconcile 14 versions of a special budget bill to fund the domestic development of surveillance and combat drones.The opposition Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) a