US Envoy Urges Taiwan to Build Drone Hornet's Nest

Raymond Greene, the director of the American Institute in Taiwan and de facto US ambassador, called for Taiwan to transform into a "hornet's nest" of air, surface, and subsurface drones to deter conflict with China. Speaking at a forum in Taichung, Greene described drones as a "game-changing opportunity" for security, citing their success for defenders in Ukraine.

Lai Ching-te, the President of Taiwan, supported this urgency, characterizing the development of asymmetric combat capabilities as a "race against time" amid evolving geopolitical threats. However, the government faces significant legislative hurdles. In May, parliament—which is dominated by the opposition Kuomintang—approved only two-thirds of a requested $40 billion defense spending increase and restricted those funds specifically to US arms purchases.

To address the gap, the government proposed a $6.59 billion drone package extending through 2031. The Kuomintang has countered with its own legislation that would cap drone spending at $7.5 billion over six years, funded through the main budget rather than a special fund. Despite these disputes, Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen, a senior KMT member, has called for parliamentary cooperation to develop the domestic drone industry.