Taiwan Rejects Chinese Components in Drones: Ensuring National Security

Defense Minister Koo Confirms Commitment to Non-Communist Supply Chains for Military Hardware

TAIPEI, Taiwan – The use of Chinese-made components in Taiwanese-made drones is strictly prohibited, as confirmed by Defense Minister Wellington Koo (顧立雄) this week. This follows a report detailing the discovery of Chinese-origin parts within an Albatross drone, highlighting the importance of secure supply chains for national defense.

The Albatross, also known as the Chung Xiang II (銳鳶二型), is manufactured by the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology, a leading defense contractor based in Taichung, Taiwan. The investigation revealed that a communication module and an SD memory card, both of Chinese origin, were present within the drone.

Director General Lee Shih-chiang (李世強) of the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology addressed the issue before lawmakers, explaining that the problem was identified early in the supply chain, during the import phase. The Institute swiftly addressed the issue by requiring the supplier to replace the Chinese components with Taiwanese-made parts, adhering to the contract's specifications. He also confirmed that mass production has not yet commenced, with testing and research phases still underway.

The Director General further acknowledged that due to restrictions, the Institute's representatives are unable to directly oversee manufacturing processes at overseas facilities. Consequently, a thorough inspection of the products is performed upon their arrival in Taiwan.

In response to inquiries from lawmakers, Minister Koo underscored the government's unwavering commitment to excluding Chinese-made components from all weapon systems. He emphasized that all defense contracts for drones stipulate the use of components sourced exclusively from "non-red" or non-communist supply chains. Minister Koo expressed the government's desire to see all components manufactured domestically within Taiwan to facilitate easier inspection and enhance overall security.