Taiwan, which is involved in a sovereignty dispute with China, has received the first shipment of “Altius-600M” kamikaze drones purchased from the United States. According to local reports, Taiwan’s Defense Minister Ku Li-Hsiung announced that the first batch of these U.S.-made drones was officially delivered on August 4.
Minister Ku stated that he had discussions with Palmer Luckey, founder of the U.S. defense technology company Anduril, and emphasized that Taiwan will continue its drone procurement program in response to ongoing threats. Taiwanese authorities had previously announced in January 2023 plans to establish a fleet of 3,000 drones to bolster their defense capabilities.
China-Taiwan Sovereignty Dispute
Taiwan, which has been effectively independent since 1949, faces claims from China that it is an inseparable part of its territory. The Beijing administration advocates the “One China” policy, opposing Taiwan’s efforts to establish independent diplomatic relations internationally and to gain representation in the United Nations and other global organizations. Furthermore, China demands that countries recognizing Taiwan diplomatically sever those ties.
