Asia Pacific | FOCUS Jul 22, 2023
Inspired by Ukraine war, Taiwan launches drone blitz to counter China
Taipei's aim, according to a government planning document, is to build more than 3,200 military drones by mid-2024.
Taipei's aim, according to a government planning document, is to build more than 3,200 military drones by mid-2024.
Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory despite the island's strong objections, has over the past three years reported almost daily missions by Chinese military aircraft nearby.
Foxconn, which assembles around 70% of iPhones, has been diversifying production away from China, whose strict COVID-19 restrictions disrupted its biggest iPhone plant last year.
War in Ukraine lends new urgency to Taiwan's security needs, especially against cyberattacks or attempts to sever cables that connect the island to the internet.
As Taipei and Beijing gradually resume travel links halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, Taiwan security officials expect China to relaunch an influence campaign.
China's growing assertiveness toward the island, as well as Russia's invasion of Ukraine, have prompted debate calls to boost defense.
Tens of thousands of workers fled the company's plant in central China and violent protests erupted over a COVID-19 lockdown and confusion over hiring bonuses.
China ended formal high-level communication with Taiwan's government in 2016 after the island's voters elected Tsai Ing-wen, whom Beijing considers a separatist, as president.
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen has made modernizing the country's armed forces a priority, developing what she has called "comprehensive asymmetric warfare capabilities."
Beijing's once-in-five years leadership reshuffle is set for the Communist Party congress that starts Oct. 16, where Xi is poised to break with precedent and secure a third leadership term.