The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) has welcomed Taiwan’s support for a US statement on the export of drone technology. The AIT is the de facto US embassy in Taiwan in the absence of official diplomatic ties.
The Joint Declaration for the Export and Subsequent Use of Armed or Strike-Enabled Unmanned Aerial Vehicles was announced in Washington DC on Wednesday. The joint statement between the US and more than 40 other countries is seen as a first step toward setting international norms for the use of drone weapons systems.
Though not a signatory, Taiwan’s foreign ministry expressed its support for the joint statement.
The AIT said Taiwan’s support shows its important role as a responsible actor on export control and non-proliferation matters of global concern. It also noted Taiwan’s key position as a central hub for shipments and transshipments in the Asia-Pacific region.
Missing from the list of signatories to the joint statement are China, Russia, India and Israel. These are four countries that are likely to be major future users or exporters of drone weapon technology.