Taiwan braces for possible massive Chinese invasion - unprecedented in Asia

Taiwan is preparing for a potential Chinese invasion by building vast fleets of drones and unmanned attack boats, aiming to become a global drone power and avoid direct confrontation. The government has set a target to produce 100,000 drones per month by 2030, and the military plans to acquire over 210,000 unmanned vehicles. In the first quarter of 2026, Taiwan exported drones worth $115 million, more than in all of 2025.

Taiwan is preparing for a possible Chinese invasion by building vast fleets of drones and unmanned attack boats. The government has set an ambitious target to produce 100,000 drones per month by 2030, with about half destined for export. The local military plans to acquire over 210,000 unmanned vehicles. According to the New York Times, the goal is to adopt Kyiv's 'David vs. Goliath' approach: using cheap and agile tools to balance the power ratio against a giant army. However, experts note that beyond technological procurement, Taiwan must fundamentally change its military organization and doctrines. The Chinese military is not idle either; Beijing is building its own fleets of unmanned vehicles and investing in detection and disruption technologies. On the international stage, in the first quarter of 2026, Taiwan exported drones worth $115 million, more than the total exports in all of 2025, positioning itself as a critical supplier for democratic countries in the West.