Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo spoke to the media today before delivering a special report at the Legislative Yuan. Addressing the draft legislation on drone development and procurement, an Army Logistics Command tire procurement case, and the regional security situation, he emphasized that mechanisms proposed in the draft, including an annual budget of NT$40 billion and a stable source of funding, still require further clarification.
Asked about the Kuomintang’s proposed “Draft Act on Drone Development and Procurement,” Minister Koo said the bill would require the central government to allocate NT$40 billion annually for drone-related programs and subject the funding to the regular annual budget review process, while also describing it as a stable source of funding. He therefore called on the Kuomintang to clarify whether the legislature would approve the entire NT$40 billion proposed by the central government each year and how the funding would be reviewed to ensure that it remained stable.
Regarding the bill’s requirement that 80% of drone production be domestically sourced within four years, Minister Koo said the details would require further discussion with the legislative caucus and should be informed by market intelligence and surveys of the industrial supply chain. The Ministry’s primary considerations are large-volume, long-term orders and iterative innovation. It hopes that a special act will concentrate resources and ensure stable procurement at scale. Whether the Kuomintang’s version would facilitate the development of Taiwan’s drone industry and advance defense self-reliance remains open to further discussion.
Addressing the Army Logistics Command’s procurement of Chinese-brand tires, Minister Koo explained that the procurement took place in 2020. At the time, the applicable rules required only that the products not be manufactured in China and did not impose restrictions on the brand. Such procurements were completely prohibited in 2024. Given the service life of tires, however, some of those purchased in 2020 remain in use. The Ministry will complete their replacement as quickly as possible in accordance with the relevant procedures.
Responding to remarks by a US official regarding the maritime conditions most favorable for a cross-strait military operation against Taiwan, Minister Koo said that assessments of whether China might invade Taiwan are not based solely on weather conditions. Instead, they involve a comprehensive evaluation of a range of military and non-military indicators. The Armed Forces are currently conducting the Immediate Combat Readiness Exercise, Joint Defense Exercise, and Han Kuang field training exercise in sequence. Minister Koo said the remarks were primarily intended to highlight the threat that China’s expanding military capabilities pose to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific, prompting countries to take corresponding measures in response.