Taiwan approves record defence budget above NT$1 trillion
SingTao · 2 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
Taiwan’s executive authorities on Thursday approved the central government’s budget proposal and related tables for next year, with the package set to be sent to the legislature for review by the end of this month. The headline figure is a total defence budget of NT$1.1225 trillion, the first time Taiwan’s defence-related spending has crossed the NT$1 trillion mark. According to the reports, that amount is equivalent to about HK$276.2 billion and accounts for 3.93% of this year’s GDP, setting another record high. The defence total combines regular ministry spending, special budgets, non-operating funds, and additional items counted under a NATO-style statistical approach.
Key Points
- The approved defence total is NT$1.1225 trillion, or about HK$276.2 billion, marking Taiwan’s highest-ever defence-related budget.
- Compared with this year, next year’s defence budget rises by NT$173 billion, an increase of 18%, according to SingTao.
- The total includes NT$691.9 billion under the defence ministry, NT$218.2 billion in special budgets, and NT$60.7 billion in non-operating special funds.
- The calculation also adds retired service members’ pension payments and Coast Guard Administration spending, using a NATO-referenced statistical standard.
- Taiwan’s Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics drafted next year’s revenue and expenditure at NT$3.9266 trillion each, achieving balance on paper.
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong readers, the scale and composition of Taiwan’s defence budget offer a concrete gauge of how cross-strait tensions are shaping fiscal priorities in the region. The inclusion of pensions, coast guard spending and special budgets also shows that headline defence figures can depend heavily on accounting methods, which matters when comparing military outlays across Asian economies.