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MOEA: Drone budget must not be frozen; industry's takeoff cannot be grounded

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) urges lawmakers not to freeze the budget for drone procurement, emphasizing its importance for public sector operations.
  • Drones are already deployed in critical areas such as power and water facility inspections, border surveillance, and disaster relief, including medicine delivery in disaster zones.
  • The MOEA highlights the burgeoning domestic drone industry, with 267 companies and a projected NT$50 billion output by 2030, and calls for continued support to foster its growth as a key national industry.

Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) is appealing to lawmakers to prevent the freezing of the budget for drone procurement, stressing the critical role drones play in public sector operations and the nascent stage of the domestic drone industry. The ministry argues that halting funding would impede the industry's growth and its vital contributions to national functions.

The MOEA detailed the current applications of drones within government agencies, including inspections of power and water facilities by the MOEA itself, maritime surveillance by the Coast Guard Administration, enhanced land management through aerial photography by the Ministry of Finance, port inspections by the Ministry of Transportation, and crucial medicine delivery and telemedicine in disaster areas by the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Drones are also utilized by the Ministry of Justice for investigating land destruction and illegal activities.

Highlighting the immediate impact of drones, the ministry cited their use during the Maotao Creek disaster event, where aerial drone footage helped assess river conditions and guide recovery efforts. This demonstrates the ongoing, practical application of drone technology in safeguarding Taiwan.

The domestic drone industry is showing significant promise, with 267 related companies already established across Taiwan. These firms are building a comprehensive supply chain, from complete systems to key modules. The MOEA projects the industry could reach an output value of NT$50 billion by 2030, positioning Taiwan as a major global drone production base, potentially following in the footsteps of Ukraine and leveraging its semiconductor and electronics manufacturing strengths.

"Drones are about to take off, and the budget cannot be frozen; the industry cannot be forced to land," the MOEA stated, urging support for the drone budget. Continued investment, they argue, will ensure the ongoing deployment of drones in public services, accelerate industry growth, and establish Taiwan as the Asia-Pacific drone center within the global democratic supply chain.

Drones are about to take off, and the budget cannot be frozen; the industry cannot be forced to land.

— Ministry of Economic AffairsUrging lawmakers to support the drone procurement budget.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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