TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The military plans to integrate Automatic Identification Systems, radars, communications, and open-source intelligence with AI analysis to quickly detect and confirm threats in real time, Deputy Defense Minister Hsu Szu-chien (徐斯儉) said on Monday.

This would improve the military’s ability to identify abnormal activities and respond more efficiently as China continues gray-zone tactics near Taiwan’s outlying islands, Hsu said, according to the Military News Agency. Surveillance drones and AI-assisted decision-making systems have also been included in special budget planning, he added.

The military works with the Coast Guard Administration and uses reporting mechanisms from Taiwanese fishing vessels to verify maritime targets and strengthen overall surveillance capabilities, Hsu said.

The CGA primarily handles maritime law enforcement, while the military provides intelligence and operational support as needed, he said. Through joint intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) mechanisms, the military shares situational awareness with the CGA to identify targets and respond appropriately.

During peacetime, illegal intrusions by small vessels are tracked and handled by the CGA using coastal radar systems, Hsu said. In wartime, radar and intelligence will be combined with other forces to establish layered defenses, monitor vessel movements, and enhance overall response capabilities.