The Defense Ministry said Thursday that it could no longer “scrape by” with minimal deterrent capabilities amid escalating threats from China, urging the Legislature to promptly review the annual defense budget and a proposed NT$1.25 trillion (US$39.6 billion) special defense budget, to avoid disrupting military buildup plans. 

The special budget would be allocated over eight years through 2033. President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) said on November 26 that Beijing aims to be ready to "take Taiwan by force" by 2027, prompting questions on whether extending procurement to 2033 is too slow. 

The stalled defense budget of NT$78 billion (US$2.4 billion) will delay equipment procurement, ammunition resupply, including High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), Harpoon, Javelin, and Stinger missiles, as well as follow-up training programs for F-16 aircraft and troop expansion drills in the next 14 days. 

Defense Ministry Strategic Planning Director General Huang Wen-chih (黃文啓) said that enemy threats are now ten times more severe than before and that they must immediately prepare against potential threats.

Though the ministry and Western intelligence assess that China will be prepared to invade Taiwan by 2027, they stress that the military build-up is long-term and cannot focus solely on that year. Defense underpins livelihood, economy, society, and education, the ministry said.