The de facto US ambassador Raymond Greene says drones symbolize a ‘game-changing alternative’ to boost Taiwan’s safety.
Revealed On 2 Jul 2026
Taiwan wants a “hornet’s nest” of drones to assist deter battle and supply safety, says the highest United States diplomat to the self-governing island that China claims as a part of its territory.
Talking at a discussion board on drones within the central metropolis of Taichung, Raymond Greene, director of the American Institute in Taiwan and the de facto US ambassador, mentioned on Thursday that drones represented a “game-changing alternative” to boost Taiwan’s safety and reinforce peace within the broader area.
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The US, Taiwan’s most necessary worldwide backer and arms provider regardless of their lack of formal diplomatic ties, has strongly supported the federal government’s army modernisation plan and elevated defence spending.
Taiwan has mentioned it must bolster its defences within the face of a stepped-up risk from China.
China regards Taiwan as a part of its territory and opposes Washington’s continued, although casual, backing of Taipei.
The US and Taiwan can anchor “democratic” drone manufacturing and strengthen the collective deterrence posture of the free world, Greene mentioned.
“Luckily for Taiwan, drones have considerably boosted defenders, even when dealing with overwhelming odds,” he added, referring to the warfare in Ukraine.
“Nothing will deter battle extra successfully than turning Taiwan right into a hornet’s nest of air, floor and subsurface drones.”
Whereas Taiwan’s authorities has prioritised drones and different uneven army methods, in Could, the opposition-dominated parliament handed solely two-thirds of the $40bn in additional defence spending that President William Lai Ching-te had requested for, earmarking funds just for US arms.
The federal government has now proposed a brand new 210 billion Taiwan {dollars} (US$6.59bn) bundle to pay for surveillance, coastal assault and small unmanned floor drones via the tip of 2031.
Nevertheless, in Could, a senior US army official mentioned Washington was placing a $14bn arms sale to Taiwan on maintain to protect munitions for the US-Israel warfare towards Iran.
The Kuomintang (KMT), Taiwan’s primary opposition social gathering, this week proposed its personal drone laws with a spending cap set at 240 billion Taiwan {dollars} (US$7.5bn) over six years and annual spending capped at 40 billion Taiwan {dollars} (US$1.25bn).
Its plan would fund drones from the principle price range reasonably than a particular price range, which is what the federal government needs.
On Wednesday, Lai referred to as the necessity for drones urgent.
“Going through adjustments within the geopolitical scenario and the evolution of contemporary warfare, constructing uneven fight capabilities is a nationwide defence mission that could be a race towards time,” he mentioned at a gathering of his Democratic Progressive Celebration.
Lai rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims, saying solely the island’s folks can resolve their future.
