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

Strong Bow system cannot be included in special bill amid diminishing chances of securing supplementary funding this year, officials say

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Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te (second from right) has championed the "T-Dome" air defence programme to counter aerial threats from Beijing. Photo: Reuters

Published: 12:00pm, 8 Jul 2026

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 system, a vital component of Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te ’s proposed T-Dome missile shield meant to counter aerial threats from Beijing.

After the programme was dropped, the military sought to revive it either through a supplementary budget this year or by incorporating it into the annual defence budget next year.

A Chiang-Kong missile and launcher, an indigenous anti-ballistic missile system, is displayed ahead of the Taipei Aerospace and Defence Technology Exhibition in Taipei on September 17, 2025. Photo: AFP

But differences between the cabinet and the defence ministry have prevented agreement on an alternative funding mechanism, Taiwan’s Liberty Times quoted unnamed senior government officials as saying on Monday.

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

Strong Bow system cannot be included in special bill amid diminishing chances of securing supplementary funding this year, officials say

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