Taiwan's drone push needs its powerhouse industries, former US commerce official says

"While still investing in traditional defense capabilities,Taiwan is also turning to drone technology to keep Beijing's forces at bay. To expand the sector, though, it needs to have its powerhouse industries fully engaged, a former US commerce official said recently. Drones - whether used for surveillance, disruption, or cheap precision strikes - are increasingly central to Taiwan's push for an asymmetric edgeas China looms as an imposing threat."

"After the US led its first major drone and counter-drone trade mission to Taiwan last fall, "the country woke up to the opportunity" that uncrewed systems represent for both defense and the economy, Betsy Shieh, a former senior commercial officer with the US Department of Commerce, said at a Hudson Institute event last week. "They could see the trend lines, and Taiwan moved very, very quickly.""

"Taiwan's government has strived in recent years to build up its drone industry. The defense ministry bought thousands of systems last year, with deliveries running through 2028, and this year rolled out a plan to buy tens of thousands more. By 2030, Taipei aims to achieve domestic production of nearly 200,000 drones annually. It's also working to stand up a China-free supply chain. The overarching goal is to accelerate industry growth, deepen its overall self-reliance, and expand ties with democratic partners."

Taiwan is rapidly scaling a domestic drone industry to provide an asymmetric defense capability against China. Government purchases and procurement plans will deploy thousands of systems with deliveries through 2028 and aims to reach nearly 200,000 drones produced annually by 2030. The strategy includes establishing a China-free supply chain and strengthening ties with democratic partners. Drones are intended for surveillance, disruption, and low-cost precision strikes, inspired in part by battlefield lessons from Ukraine. Major non-drone Taiwanese companies are encouraged to engage in the sector, while cost, speed, and supply-chain complexity remain key challenges.

Read at Business Insider