Taiwan’s opposition-controlled parliament approved this year’s government budget late on Friday after a record delay, including spending on a key drone programme to bolster the island’s defences.

Details of the Budget

The budget was cut by T$48 billion from the originally proposed spending of T$3.034 trillion ($94.79 billion), but $63.4 billion earmarked for drones passed without cuts, funding systems the government wants to modernise in the military to better deter China, which views Taiwan as its own territory.

President Lai Ching-te said in a statement that parliamentary oversight of the government and review of the budget are an important duty granted by the constitution. He added that budget review should return to principles of professionalism, reasonableness, and proportionality, and should not let political divisions affect the normal functioning of the state.

Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.