Mayor Lu backs drone ordinance, proposes NT$240 billion budget

Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen has thrown her full support behind a proposed drone ordinance, advocating for a significant budget of 240 billion New Taiwan dollars to be allocated over six years. This initiative aligns with the direction of the Kuomintang party's proposal, aiming to establish Taiwan as a future "guardian mountain" in the drone industry.

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We should build the next guardian mountain.

Lu met with Kuomintang lawmakers in Taipei to discuss the details. She suggested an annual budget of 40 billion New Taiwan dollars, spread over six years, to bolster drone research, development, and manufacturing. The Kuomintang party has since formally submitted its version of the bill, titled the "National Defense Autonomous Unmanned Vehicle Technology Development and Procurement Act," with the same budget.

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Unmanned vehicles are the future trend for many industries, and we must plan seriously.

Lawmakers, including Legislator Huang Chien-hao, emphasized the strategic importance of the drone industry for future economic competitiveness. They highlighted Taiwan's central region as a crucial hub, boasting a comprehensive supply chain in precision machinery, aerospace, and optoelectronics. The goal is to increase central government investment to support industry R&D, talent cultivation, and supply chain upgrades, ensuring Taiwan captures a key opportunity in global competition.

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The central region has the most complete supply chain in precision machinery, aerospace, optoelectronics, and components in Taiwan, making it the most important cluster for Taiwan's drone industry.