Taiwan develops drone-based

Taiwan is accelerating its military preparations to deter a potential Chinese invasion by adopting an asymmetric defense strategy. Inspired by the conflict in Ukraine, Taipei is developing what U.S. officials describe as a "hellscape"—a combination of waves of drones, missiles, and artillery designed to make an amphibious landing prohibitively risky and costly for Beijing.

During the annual Han Kuang military exercises, Taiwanese troops demonstrated the use of drones for reconnaissance and practiced methods for destroying enemy drones. Lieutenant General Huang Wen-chi noted that while drone and counter-drone efforts began relatively late through trial and error, capabilities have improved significantly over the last two years.

The strategy involves investing heavily in aerial drones and unmanned attack vessels to identify and strike Chinese forces before they can consolidate positions on the island. While there is political consensus in Taiwan regarding the need to increase drone production, there are ongoing debates concerning funding levels between the government and opposition parties.