TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The 2025 Taiwan-U.S. Defense Industry Forum convened at the Taipei International Convention Center (台北國際會議中心) on Wednesday (June 11), emphasizing the collaboration potential in drones and unmanned vehicles. High-profile attendees included Christine E. Wormuth, former U.S. secretary of the Army, and Rupert Hammond-Chambers, president of the U.S.-Taiwan Business Council.
The forum highlighted drones' critical role in Taiwan's future asymmetric warfare capabilities, a strategy gaining increased attention following their effectiveness in the Ukraine-Russia conflict. Wormuth stressed the importance of U.S.-Taiwan industrial partnerships, pointing to Taiwan's robust manufacturing infrastructure as a valuable asset. She emphasized America's commitment to strengthening deterrence, stating that the goal is to ensure Beijing's leadership wakes up thinking daily: "Today is not the day. We're not ready."
Taiwan's Minister of National Defence, Wellington Koo (顧立雄), has outlined ambitious goals to establish self-sufficient drone production capabilities and develop a China-free supply chain (非紅供應鏈). Koo expressed Taiwan's intention to become a significant player in the global drone market. Hammond-Chambers noted encouraging behind-the-scenes progress, crediting the American Institute in Taiwan and the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command for maintaining uninterrupted bilateral cooperation despite political transitions.
Su Tzu-yun (蘇紫雲), a researcher at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research (INDSR, 國防安全研究院), pointed to emerging successes in the Taiwan-U.S. drone industry chain. He explained that the forum serves as a crucial platform for enhancing technical demonstrations and fostering cooperation between the two allies. According to Su, drones have consistently been a focal point at the Taiwan-U.S. Defense Industry Forum since 2023, helping to establish robust industry collaboration mechanisms.
Su provided historical context, noting that drone concepts date back to 1917, with recent electronic technology advancements transforming unmanned vehicles into battlefield game changers. He emphasized the complementary strengths of Taiwanese and American industries, highlighting how companies like Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC, 漢翔) have formalized partnerships with U.S. firms through memoranda of understanding to enhance production capacity and meet growing demand.
Last year's forum attracted 27 U.S. defense contractors, with this year's event aiming to further strengthen bilateral technical exchanges and explore future cooperation opportunities. The growing partnership reflects both countries' recognition of unmanned systems as a critical component of modern defense strategies, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region.