Toward Decline
As Taiwan’s Drone Budget Debate Drags on, Time Is Running out
Why it matters
Taiwan's failure to execute domestically produced combat-drone procurement by end-2026 represents a critical gap in its asymmetric defence against China's drone-heavy military posture, directly affecting the credibility of Taiwan's deterrent. For Australia, Taiwan's defence deterioration narrows the Indo-Pacific window for a stable balance, heightens the risk of Chinese coercion, and underscores the urgency of AUKUS delivery and allied coordination to maintain the regional power equilibrium Australia depends on.
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