cross-posted from: https://scribe.disroot.org/post/8859386
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Despite repeated denials from Beijing, Ukraine accuses China of aiding its ally Russia with military goods. Amid broader concerns about China’s dominance of industrial supply chains and the security risks that could entail, Ukraine – as well as Europe, the US and other countries – have increasingly turned to Taiwan as an alternative supplier.
Taiwan’s reputation for excellence in technology and particular expertise in microelectronics, navigation systems and batteries – areas in which western suppliers have struggled to compete – make it a favoured alternative source for Ukrainian drone manufacturers, according to the Snake Island Institute (SII), an independent Ukrainian thinktank.
Taiwan appears ready to meet the moment – with its president, Lai Ching-te, promoting a US$40bn supplementary defence budget that includes funding for drones and the integration of artificial intelligence.
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Taiwanese drone exports to Europe surged more than 40-fold in 2025, with Poland and Czechia among the largest markets, according to the Research Institute for Democracy, Society and Emerging Technology (DSET). The trend continues to grow – exports in the first quarter of 2026 have already surpassed last year’s total.
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Ultimately, localisation remains Ukraine’s primary focus, says Artur Savchii, an analyst at the SII thinktank.
Each year of the war has pushed production further inward: from mainly importing Chinese finished drones to assembling them almost entirely domestically. By last year, Ukraine had more than 100 manufacturers of components on its shores, according to Ukraine’s ministry of defence. Ukrainian companies are also tailoring systems specifically for frontline combat in ways that mass-market Chinese suppliers often cannot, Savchii says.
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Taiwanese companies remain nimble though; some drone companies have established local facilities in Lithuania and Poland to better serve Ukraine, while a government body to promote the industry has signed memorandums of understanding with five European countries.
As demand for AI-driven drones grows on the frontline, experts and suppliers see potential for deeper Taiwan-Ukraine cooperation. Taiwan’s ministry of economic affairs has pledged to support seven hi-tech companies with about NT$326m ($10m), to develop drone-specific chips.
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