Lawmakers Pass Opposition-Backed Drone Bill - Aug. 27, 2026
By TaiwanPlus
Taiwan lawmakers have passed an opposition-backed defense spending bill allocating US$7.6 billion over six years to boost the country’s drone capabilities. A landslide near the Nepal-Tibet border has killed at least 150 people, with hundreds more still missing. And China has urged its citizens to leave Eswatini, Taiwan's last diplomatic ally in Africa. TaiwanPlus speaks with political scientist Yen Chen-shen about what may be behind the move and its implications for Taiwan's diplomatic ties. Plus: - Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung has led a delegation to Taiwan ally Palau for the 2026 Pacific Islands Forum, where he is set to meet with Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr. -Taiwan is marking Ghost Month in Keelung to honor the dead, culminating in a festival where lanterns are released into the sea to guide spirits back to the underworld. - Taiwan's top judo athletes are gearing up for the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Japan, led by Yang Yung-wei, who won Taiwan's 100th Asian Games gold medal in 2023.
