March 13, 2026
The Taiwanese Parliament has authorized the government to sign the previously stalled agreements with the United States for four arms sales packages. President Lai Ching-te’s government has been seeking approval for an additional USD 40 billion in defence spending amid tensions with China. However, the opposition parties, who hold the majority in the parliament, have criticized the lack of clarity in the government’s spending plan. The authorization was done after concerns that further delays could risk Taiwan losing its place in the production and delivery queue, while parliamentary review of the plans is ongoing.