The Ministry of National Defense has released details of a list of weapons
systems it intends to procure via direct commercial sales or commissioned
manufacturing.

The planned purchase all come under the Cabinet's proposed 1.25-trillion N-T
special defense budget proposal.

The items include drones and various types of ammunition.

The procurement process is expected to involve the National Chung-Shan
Institute of Science and Technology and the Armaments Bureau.

Defense officials say about 24-per cent of the eight-year special budget will
be allocated to direct commercial sales or commissioned manufacturing.

While 76-per cent of the proposed budget will be spent on U-S weapons
systems, including those already approved for sale to Taiwan by Washington or
identified by Taiwan as items of interest through the Foreign Military Sales
program.

The Cabinet's 1.25-trillion N-T special defense budget proposal was sent to
lawmakers for review late last year, but remains frozen in the Legislative
Yuan.

Lawmakers from the K-M-T and the Taiwan People's Party are demanding that
President Lai Ching-te brief lawmakers directly on the proposal.