Taiwan Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim set out three pillars for strengthening Taiwan’s position as an Asian hub for a democratic drone supply chain. She delivered the remarks at the Taiwan International Drone Forum and the opening event for the Global UAV Academy. The pillars she described are a trusted non-China supply chain, edge AI and software-defined innovation, and international cooperation and drone diplomacy.
On supply chains, Hsiao said Taiwan is working to build a 100% trusted, non-China supply chain. She said this would ensure that components including microprocessors and flight controllers meet high standards for cybersecurity and operational integrity. Hsiao also said democratic countries need secure alternatives to supply-chain dependence and backdoors.
The second pillar, edge AI and software-defined innovation, reflects what Hsiao described as software’s role as a key differentiator in drone technology. She said Taiwan is integrating edge AI into autonomous platforms for real-time decision-making, sensor fusion and navigation in GPS-denied environments. She added that Taiwan’s semiconductor and AI ecosystems can provide next-generation platforms for partners.
The third pillar is international cooperation. Hsiao said Taiwan cannot build a supply chain alone and cited joint research and development, technology transfer, co-production and procurement as areas for global cooperation. She said few countries can produce unmanned systems at scale, and described Taiwan’s strengths in research and development, OEM and mass production as making it an ideal co-production partner.
Hsiao said Taiwan’s drone exports in the first half of this year had already exceeded the total for the previous year. As an example of cooperation, she cited a donation by Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs of four drones for maritime patrol and rescue during a visit to Palau in June.