What Happened
President Calls for Joint Development to Counter China
Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te has emphasized the need for deeper cooperation with democratic partners on drone development, citing the importance of unmanned systems in modern warfare. The Taiwanese government has proposed an additional $4.59 billion in defence spending, which includes funding for drones, anti-ballistic missiles, and coastal surveillance systems. The move is seen as part of Taiwan’s efforts to modernize its defence capabilities and counter military pressure from China. This development was reported by Reuters.