Taiwan continues to modernise its army with indigenous products
D2, the second prototype of the Cloud Leopard II, boasts a locally manufactured 105mm main gun in a turret. (Photo: MND)
The island’s government has pushed through increased defence spending on new equipment, including the development of new rifles and the introduction of new armoured vehicle variants, as it prepares for a potential showdown with China.
Taiwan has ratified a record FY2025 defence budget of NT$647 billion ($20.2 billion) in August at a time when the island nation faces an existential threat from Chinese aggression. While some of the money will be steered towards new equipment for the Republic of China Army (ROCA), the budget increase of 7.7% compared to last year was less than a twelfth of what China spends on its military.
After completing operational tests in November 2023, a total of 25,000 T112 5.56mm assault rifles were ordered from the 205th Arsenal earlier this year. All of these 3.5kg weapons should be
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