The Korean Central News Agency reported on the 4th that a delegation of 25 U.S. defense companies visited Taiwan and discussed strengthening Taiwan’s defense capabilities, including joint development of unmanned aerial vehicles.
According to the media, a delegation from the US defense industry led by former Pacific Marine Corps Commander Steven Ruther held a defense industry forum with Taiwanese defense companies in Taipei the day before.
Regarding defense cooperation between the US and Taiwan, former Commander Ruther said in a keynote speech at the Defense Industry Forum, “The ultimate goal is to link the weapons systems of both sides so that their respective missions can be coordinated and operated under the same command system.”
At the same time, former Commander-in-Chief Ruther emphasized that cooperation in the defense industry should be carried out while keeping in mind the joint military operation between the two countries targeting China.
Former Commander Ruther stated that Taiwan should enhance the compatibility of the US and Taiwanese forces to the extent that they use weapons jointly produced by both countries in addition to US-made weapons.
Former Commander Ruther also insisted that “the United States will be involved in strengthening Taiwan’s self-defense and will actively promote economic cooperation and related people-to-people exchanges.”
Luo Zhengfang, chairman of Taiwan Jingwei Hangtai Technology, which develops unmanned aerial vehicles for defense, responded by saying, “The US and Taiwan can cooperate in developing unmanned aerial vehicle technology, collecting information, and training.”
Chairman Luo Zhengfang requested technology transfer from the United States to increase Taiwan’s drone development capabilities.
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with intelligence-gathering and attack capabilities are considered one of the most important forces in deterring China’s invasion of Taiwan.
Unmanned aerial vehicles have the advantage of being mass-produced and deployed at relatively low cost.
Amid rising military tensions in the Taiwan Strait, the delegation that visited Taiwan for the first time in four years since 2019 included leading US defense companies, including Aero Vironment, which makes switchblade drones known as “killer drones.”
The U.S. delegation inspected Taiwan’s national defense science research institute, the National Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST), and exchanged views with local private companies on defense industry cooperation plans.
Source: Donga
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