Taiwan must deepen cooperation with its democratic partners on developing drones, President Lai Ching-te said on Monday. He was speaking at the groundbreaking of a new drone development centre in Chiayi.

“From the Ukrainian battlefield to Indo-Pacific regional security, unmanned systems have become important combat strength in modern defence,” Lai said, according to Reuters. He added that Taiwan must “deepen cooperation with democratic partners and jointly build a safer and more resilient unmanned aircraft supply chain.”

Taiwan’s cabinet proposed an extra T$145.7 billion ($4.59 billion) in defence spending earlier this month. The plans include more than 600 coastal surveillance drones, over 40,000 attack drones and a first batch of more than 100 small suicide drone boats.

The push comes as China steps up military pressure on the island, which Beijing views as its own territory. Lai and his government reject Beijing’s sovereignty claims.

Why it matters: Taiwan is betting that drones can offset China’s military advantage, and it wants allied partners to share in building that deterrent.