2026-6-22

On May 12, Taiwan’s drone diplomacy task force signed a letter of intent (LOI) with the US-based Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) to promote drone talent development exchanges and international certification. The signing took place during the XPONENTIAL unmanned vehicle conference in Detroit.

Chiang Zhen-wei, chief executive director of the task force and director general of MOFA’s Department of NGO International Affairs, said the drone diplomacy task force was established by Minister Lin Chia-lung last October under President Lai Ching-te’s policy to develop five key industries—semiconductors, artificial intelligence, military, security, and surveillance. The taskforce is based on the same concept as semiconductor diplomacy, Chiang added. 

Taiwan’s drone industry is mainly composed of small and medium-sized enterprises with limited brand recognition. Chiang expressed hope that MOFA’s Global Uncrewed Autonomous Vehicle Academy (GUAVA), which officially signed the LOI, would help achieve marketing synergy. He noted that Ukraine had followed suit by announcing its drone diplomacy policy in May.

Tsao Chin-pin, Chairman of the Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation and President of the Taiwan Excellence Drone International Business Opportunities Alliance, said the Ukraine conflict had redefined the pace of war and demonstrated the wide and practical uses of drones. He explained that previous military action had focused on mass production and rapid deployment, but now the main consideration was how to achieve maximum efficiency with limited funding. Tsao said the trend was toward faster, cheaper, more durable, and more resilient drones. Cybersecurity and resilient non-red supply chains were no longer optional but pivotal to maintaining resilience and success, Chiang explained.

AUVSI President and CEO Michael Robbins said Taiwan was a prime location for international promotion of the association’s Green UAS compliance certification for drones because it was leading the way in non-red supply chains, speed, scale, and resilience.