Taiwan follows Ukraine's lead and sees maritime drones as counter to China - Reuters
Illustrative photo: Taiwan sees maritime drones as a counter to China (Getty Images)
Taiwan is taking a cue from Ukraine and exploring how maritime drones can be used to repel a possible Chinese invasion, Reuters reports.
Not far from the small fishing port of Wushi, a Taiwanese company is testing maritime drones that could become a powerful weapon in the island's arsenal in the future.
"Used to great effect by Ukraine in the Black Sea against Russia, Taiwan is learning lessons on how it could use sea drones as an effective and low-cost way to fend off any possible Chinese invasion," Reuters adds.
Today, under pressure from the United States, Taiwan is working to transform its armed forces so that they can fight asymmetric warfare using mobile, smaller, and often cheaper weapons.
"Uncrewed boats or vehicles have played a very significant role in the Ukraine war. Uncrewed vehicles, whether they are boats or underwater vehicles, can effectively deter China because Taiwan is not the attacking side, we are the defending side," said Chen Kuan-ting, a lawmaker from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
The Taiwanese Ministry of Defense's research and development unit called the plan to create maritime drones fast and sudden, but it currently has a modest budget of about $26.77 million.
At the same time, Taiwan's Defense Minister Wellington Koo said that maritime drones would be included in an additional spending package to be announced later.
Next week, an exhibition will be held at which more than a dozen Taiwanese and foreign companies will demonstrate unmanned surface vehicles that can be added to Taiwan's arsenal.
Conflict between China and Taiwan
China considers Taiwan to be its territory and seeks its peaceful reunification, not excluding the use of force. Beijing is putting pressure on Taipei diplomatically, economically, and militarily, including regular exercises near the island and a growing military presence in the region. Taiwan, on the other hand, maintains its independence, has a separate government and army, and is actively developing international relations despite restrictions.
In early April, as Reuters reported, Chinese troops conducted exercises around Taiwan, during which 76 military aircraft and 15 Chinese warships were spotted near the island.
