Joe O’Connor

BREAKING: Today, the Legislative Yuan passed the "Special Act for Safeguarding National Security and Strengthening Asymmetric Capabilities Procurement," authorizing a total budget ceiling of NT$780 billion (US$24.89 billion) for U.S. arms procurement. The authorized amount is divided into two batches. The first batch, worth NT$300 billion (US$9.57 billion), will fund arms sales notified in December, including Paladin self-propelled howitzers, HIMARS launchers, and Javelin / TOW-2B missiles. A second batch, with a ceiling of NT$480 billion (US$15.31 billion), will fund additional U.S. sales that have not yet been notified. Per CNA reporting, this bill appears to be an authorization act, not an appropriations act, only setting topline budget ceilings and regulating the budget process. Per the bill, Lai administration officials must submit special reports within 30 days, then prepare budget proposals, which must receive LY approval. The budget will be implemented between passage and December 2033.

Per Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense, two PLAN vessels entered waters southwest of Penghu on the 27th. The MND has deployed assets to monitor and respond. It is unclear if the vessels entered into Taiwan's 24nm contiguous waters zone. The PLAN vessels are: Type 052C Destroyer CNS Zhengzhou (Hull No. 151) Type 054A Frigate CNS Hebi (Hull No. 534)