US drive for domestic drones risks sidelining Taiwan, report warns

After Trump executive order, think tank urges formal cooperation mechanisms

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Taiwan's drone industry is growing, but a key technology-focused think tank worries that it will be left in the cold as the U.S. pushes to build up its own domestic industry. © Reuters

THOMPSON CHAU

TAIPEI -- Taiwan is at risk of being marginalized as the U.S. builds up its drone industry, a report from a leading tech think tank will warn on Monday, as video footage from earlier this month drives home how autonomous vehicles are revolutionizing warfare.

The report, compiled by the Taipei-based think tank Research Institute for Democracy, Society and Emerging Technology (DSET) and seen by Nikkei Asia, flags concerns about a recent executive order issued by U.S. President Donald Trump to prioritize the procurement of domestically manufactured drones. It casts Taiwan -- which is intent on becoming a center for drone technology and has voiced a desire to work with the U.S. and other democratic partners -- as being left behind without formalized co-production mechanisms.

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