Jake Saunders, Manila The top American diplomat in Taiwan has urged the island to become a “hornet’s nest” of drones, calling unmanned systems a vital deterrent against potential Chinese aggression. Speaking at a drone forum in Taichung, Raymond Greene, director of the American Institute in Taiwan, described UAVs as a “game-changing opportunity” to bolster Taiwan’s…
Frank Williams, Okinawa Taiwan’s military is on schedule to finish its next-generation integrated air defense intelligence system by the end of this year, with plans to deploy the advanced network as early as next year pending approval of additional funding, a military source said. The system merges two major domestic initiatives: the Huanzhan Project (寰展計畫),…
Richard Sanders, Phnom Penh Corey Wetherholt, founder of CivDiv LLC and a former U.S. Marine Corps infantryman, has emerged as a leading voice on small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS) and first-person view (FPV) drone operations. His career trajectory—from conventional Marine infantry to guerrilla-style operations in Iraq, early advisory roles in Ukraine, and hands-on FPV engineering—mirrors…
Frank Williams, Ho Chi Minh City Taiwan’s Cabinet has approved a draft bill to fund a major expansion of its domestic drone industry, but political divisions in the legislature threaten to delay or derail the initiative. The Executive Yuan last Thursday signed off on a proposal authorizing a special budget of up to NT$210 billion…
Brian Lupus, Penang The recent conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran is increasingly being viewed by analysts as a defining example of how modern warfare is evolving—offering lessons that extend far beyond the Middle East, including for Taiwan and the broader Indo-Pacific. Despite overwhelming military superiority, a coalition led by Washington and Tel…
Francis Tushcek, Okinawa China has launched a ‘special maritime law enforcement operation’ east of Taiwan in response to the announcement of maritime border talks in the area by Japan and the Philippines. China – which views the self-ruled island as its own sovereign territory – protested the negotiations, saying they infringe on its sovereignty. The…
Richard Sanders, Phnom Penh As the U.S. military embraces AI and prepares for large-scale war, cognitive warfare is emerging as a favored concept for disrupting enemy decision-making. Supporters say it could help deliver faster, sharper battlefield choices and a decisive information edge. Critics, however, argue the idea is largely a rebranding of older psychological and…
Richard Sanders, Singapore — The Philippines is actively pursuing deeper security cooperation with Taiwan and a broader coalition of nations committed to deterring what Manila describes as China’s “nefarious plans” in the region, Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro declared over the weekend. Speaking on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue security forum in…
Francis Tuschek, Taipei, May 31, 2026 — Taiwan’s President William Lai declared Friday that the island will accelerate efforts to strengthen its military capabilities and economic resilience in the face of escalating threats from Beijing, framing the strategy as one of deterrence through strength rather than provocation. Speaking at the Presidential and Youth Forum hosted…
Richard Sanders, Taipei The US-Taiwan Business Council (USTBC) today announced that its 9th annual defense delegation will take place May 26-29, 2026. Led by General (Ret.) Charles A. Flynn, the delegation of 41 senior executives is visiting Taiwan to promote expanded bilateral cooperation with the United States and in support of the national security goals…