Taiwanese Special Defense Budget: Taiwan’s opposition party, the Kuomintang(KMT), voted to block the Special Budget for Asymmetric War for the sixth time on January 9. Failure to pass the special budget could impair Taiwan’s ability to implement an asymmetric defense strategy and could damage international perceptions of Taiwan’s commitment to its defense.
Opposition-led alternatives to the Special Defense Budget: The Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) announced on January 14 that it will propose a revised special defense budget, likely to break the legislative deadlock.
BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) Combined Military Exercises: The PRC led military exercises with Iran, Russia, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates from January 9 to 16. The PRC could be signaling its intention to expand BRICS activities to include security cooperation.
China & Taiwan Update, January 16, 2026 (Institute for the Study of War)
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