TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Deputy Premier Cheng Li-chun (鄭麗君) on Saturday outlined five strategies to establish a democratic drone supply chain in Taiwan.
Cheng visited the Asia UAV AI Innovation Application R&D Center in Chiayi, where she met with representatives from over 20 drone companies, according to the Cabinet. In her speech, she reaffirmed President Lai Ching-te’s (賴清德) goal of making Taiwan the center of Asia’s democratic drone supply chain.
She emphasized that geopolitical shifts have highlighted the need for secure and trustworthy supply chains, presenting a unique opportunity for Taiwan’s drone industry.
The five strategies include:
Expanding domestic and international demand
Government agencies will increase procurement of drones and related services while developing diverse drone applications. Taiwan will also seek global market integration and international business expansion.
Developing key technologies and strengthening global partnerships
The government will support early-stage R&D through public research institutions and offer tax incentives to encourage innovation. Taiwan will also explore international co-production partnerships to enhance technological capabilities.
Forming industrial clusters and ecosystems
The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Chiayi County plan to establish a second UAV center to further develop industrial clustering and solidify Chiayi as a drone industry hub. Along with the Asia UAV Innovation Center and Minxiong Aerospace Industrial Park, this will create a comprehensive ecosystem for R&D, testing, manufacturing, application, and international cooperation.
Establishing usage regulations and promoting cybersecurity certification
The government will continue providing cybersecurity certification subsidies for drone manufacturers and align with international security standards. Taiwan will also establish a regulatory sandbox with designated UAV testing airspace.
Enhancing national resilience
All government drone procurements and civilian applications should contribute to Taiwan’s defense, civil infrastructure, disaster response, and democratic resilience.
These policies follow the renaming of Taiwan’s national drone task force, which Cheng oversees, to the “Unmanned Vehicle Task Force,” reflecting its expanded focus on aerial drones, surface, and underwater unmanned vehicles.
Defense Minister Wellington Koo (顧立雄) confirmed on Tuesday that Taiwan is partnering with the US on both civilian and military drones. He said the US seeks to collaborate with Taiwan in building a secure, non-red drone supply chain. Private sector firms and the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) are developing related technologies, he added.
