TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — American Institute in Taiwan Director Raymond Greene highlighted drone development as key to enhancing deterrence in the Taiwan Strait.
In a CNA interview on Tuesday, Greene said the defense application of drones is crucial to maintaining peace and security in the Taiwan Strait. He said Taiwan-US drone cooperation is focusing on three areas: AI applications, supply chain integration, and investment.
Greene attended Xponential, a trade show focused on unmanned systems, in Houston, Texas, this week. He was in the US for the SelectUSA Investment Summit with a large delegation of Taiwanese investors.
Greene has touted military and commercial drones as an area for greater bilateral cooperation. He said US research and development capabilities, combined with Taiwan's manufacturing know-how, could grow the drone industry. He added that AI will bring revolutionary changes to drone performance.
Greene said that Ukraine's actions during the Russo-Ukrainian War prove that drones are effective. Although Ukraine has no navy, it deterred Russia's navy in the Black Sea with drones and asymmetrical strategies.
In terms of supply chain integration, Greene said Taiwan's government-backed drone industry alliance, aimed at promoting Taiwanese drone companies' overseas business opportunities, signed an MOU with the US Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International. The agreement creates a trusted supply network to verify that partners do not include components from China or other adversaries.
For investment. Greene said several Taiwanese companies are considering investing in the US. The US Defense Department requires a proportion of defense projects to be produced domestically, leading some Taiwanese companies to build US factories.
Furthermore, the US government is moving away from Chinese drones due to cybersecurity concerns. Some Taiwanese companies have already started to fill the gap, selling drones to police departments in Texas and Florida.
He also emphasized that drones have other applications, including environmental, firefighting, agriculture, and scientific research.
