Enemy within? The dispute endangering Taiwan’s ‘T-Dome’ air defence plan

AI Summary

Taiwan's 'T-Dome' air defence program faces delays as budget disputes within the legislature result in a reduced defense budget. The indigenous Chiang-Kong anti-ballistic missile project was excluded from funding in the opposition-controlled legislature's approved package.

Taiwan’s flagship “T-Dome” air defence programme is facing possible delays to 2028 after budget disputes left one of its critical indigenous missile systems without a clear funding source. The island’s opposition-controlled legislature approved a reduced NT$780 billion (over US$24 billion) special defence budget in May, rejecting a larger NT$1.25 trillion package proposed by the government. Among the excluded projects was funding for the indigenous Chiang-Kong (Strong Bow) anti-ballistic missile...