The Taiwan People’s Party unveiled a draft drone procurement bill today funded through the annual general budget. The proposal comes after the legislature blocked the Executive Yuan’s NT$210 billion special budget last week. Furthermore, the new bill places no spending cap, unlike the rejected special budget proposal. Consequently, the TPP aims to restart Taiwan’s drone development push through a different legislative pathway.
Article 12 of the draft requires the government to prioritize domestically made drones offering high performance at low cost. Additionally, Article 10 directs Taiwan’s drone industry toward international markets with a focus on boosting exports. TPP Legislator Hung Yu-hsiang said the bill would also overhaul Taiwan’s airspace management system entirely. Specifically, it calls for reviewing and classifying airspace while establishing low-altitude air corridors for logistics and inspections.
The proposal further separates military and civilian drone testing sites to improve operational clarity. Moreover, it mandates flight-test data collection to support ongoing research and development efforts. Hung said the bill would also establish a national drone database to centralize industry information. Additionally, the legislation introduces non-red supply chain checks designed to accelerate domestic technological development.
TPP Legislator Wang An-hsiang said the bill requires the Executive Yuan to establish a 13 to 17-member drone industry committee. That committee would include government agency heads, central authority representatives, and experts nominated by legislative caucuses. Furthermore, the committee would draft a drone industry development strategy, reviewing it every two years. Meeting minutes would be made public to ensure transparency throughout the strategic planning process.
TPP caucus whip Jacky Chen explained that funding drone procurement through the annual budget clarifies agency leadership responsibilities. He emphasized the goal is creating a unified command structure across multiple involved agencies. Additionally, the bill introduces legal penalties to prevent companies from exploiting the program for improper gain. Going forward, the TPP hopes this alternative funding approach will gain broader legislative support where the special budget previously failed.
