The Taiwan-US Defense Industry Symposium began on Thursday, with former United States Marine Corps Commanding General Steven Rudder and US-Taiwan Business Council President Rupert Hammond-Chambers attending the opening ceremony. Defense Minister Wellington Koo (顧立雄) addressed the Legislature regarding Rudder’s comments and other matters pertaining to national defense.
Rudder, who is also currently nonresident senior fellow at the Indo-Pacific Security Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security, mentioned that Taiwan should learn from the Russian invasion of Ukraine and prioritize the development of drone systems. Koo said the Defense Ministry and private sector are collaborating to produce AI-driven drones; they are also investigating mature technologies such as friend-or-foe identification and kill chains.
Regarding the U.S. Department of State’s recent approval for a sale of F-16 parts valued at US$300 million (NT$9.7 billion) to Taiwan, Koo said that these parts are essential to maintaining the aircraft’s serviceability.
Koo said Taiwan can exercise the right of self-defense if its territorial airspace is violated. When asked for further clarification, he stated that the Defense Ministry will exercise this right proportionally depending on the degree of threat, and that relevant handling regulations are fully outlined in their emergency plans.
China recently invited some of Taiwan’s retired military generals to Huangpu, Guangzhou, for the Whampoa Military Academy’s centennial celebrations. Koo urged them to decline the invitation in the interests of national security.