TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Aerospace Industrial Development Corp. (AIDC) Deputy General Manager Chuang Hsiu-mei (莊秀美) said the company will collaborate with Japanese firms to build a China-free drone supply chain, aiming to expand their global market share.

Chuang noted that Japanese manufacturers have strengths in engines, heat-resistant coatings, and solid-state batteries. Taiwan, she added, offers high cost-performance advantages in motors, small batteries, and cameras, making the two sides highly complementary, per CNA.

Chinese-made drones may pose risks to information security, Chuang said. Building a reliable drone supply chain and reducing reliance on China’s unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have become key goals for many democratic countries. She emphasized that the Taiwan-Japan collaboration will deliver high-quality, secure products.

The global drone market is projected to reach nearly NT$1.6 trillion (US$51.8 billion) by 2030. To seize this opportunity, the Ministry of Economic Affairs established the Taiwan Excellence Drone International Business Opportunities Alliance (TEDIBOA) in September.

The alliance is chaired by AIDC Chair Hu Kai-hung (胡開宏) and includes more than 200 member companies, such as Thunder Tiger, Coretronic Intelligent Robotics Corp., GEOSAT Aerospace and Technology, and Evergreen Aviation Technologies Corp.

This year, TEDIBOA has led its members and local research institutions in showcasing the latest technologies in drone R&D, anti-drone systems, communication equipment, flight control chips, and drone payloads at tech expos in Germany, the US, and Japan.

In June, TEDIBOA signed a memorandum of understanding with the Japan UAS Industry Development Association. Hu said Japan excels in precision machinery and automatic control, while Taiwan is strong in semiconductors, ICT, manufacturing, and system integration. Their collaboration will focus on supply chain integration and technology development.

In March, the Japan Drone Consortium visited Taiwan to sign a cooperation agreement with TEDIBOA. That partnership centers on disaster prevention, emergency response, and autonomous flight testing. TEDIBOA also arranged facility visits for the Japanese group, highlighting R&D in batteries, controllers, motors, and wireless communication systems.