A hornet's nest of drones is needed to save Taiwan from conflict, says US diplomat

Taiwan requires a "hornet's nest" of drones to bolster its defenses and deter potential conflict with China, according to the top US diplomat to the island. Raymond Greene, director of the American Institute in Taiwan, highlighted drones as a "game-changing opportunity" for enhancing security and regional peace, suggesting joint "democratic" drone production with the US. He cited the war in Ukraine as evidence of drones significantly boosting defenders against overwhelming odds.

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Nothing will deter conflict more effectively than turning Taiwan into a hornet's nest of air, surface, and subsurface drones.

Despite prioritizing drones and asymmetric systems, Taiwan's parliament recently approved only a portion of President Lai Ching-te's requested defense spending, earmarking funds specifically for US arms. The government has since proposed a new $6.59 billion package for various drone types through 2031.

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From Ukraine to Iran, the nature of international warfare has changed because of drones and unmanned vehicles.

Taiwan's main opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), has put forth its own drone legislation with a lower spending cap and a different funding mechanism. Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen, a prominent KMT figure, emphasized the need for parliamentary cooperation in developing the drone industry, noting the global shift in warfare due to unmanned vehicles. President Lai also stressed the urgency of building asymmetric combat capabilities in response to evolving geopolitical situations and modern warfare.

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Facing changes in the geopolitical situation and the evolution of modern warfare, building asymmetric combat capabilities is a national defense project that is a race against time.