Taiwan Holds Sea Drone Show Amid Growing Maritime Pressure From China

Taiwan is stepping up efforts to protect its surrounding waters as concerns grow over China’s gray-zone activities at sea. Speaking at a sea drone exhibition, Ocean Affairs Council Minister Kuan Bi-ling said Taiwan’s connection to the world depends heavily on the ocean and that safeguarding nearby waters is essential for both Taiwan’s security and global economic activity. The exhibition featured autonomous surface vessels designed for offshore surveillance and emergency response. Analysts say the increasing scale of maritime challenges around Taiwan will require new technologies and closer international cooperation. National Security Program researcher Cathy Fang said uncrewed systems can help reduce risks to personnel while allowing crewed vessels to focus on the most critical missions. The event comes amid a recent increase in Chinese military activity around Taiwan.