2026-7-24

Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao visited Palau, one of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies, to assist its development of technology applications and digital resilience. On June 8, she and Palauan President Surangel Whipps, Jr. attended a drone donation ceremony and exhibition.

Speaking to the press, Vice President Hsiao noted that drones had novel functions. In Taiwan, she said, they could be used in disaster prevention, rural logistics, and bolstering the resilience of post-disaster communications.

Hsiao added that Taiwan’s new drone industry had grown significantly in recent years, with technology also advancing. She explained that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had established a drone diplomacy task force and was planning to set up a drone pilot training center with diplomatic allies.

The vice president expressed hope that the exhibition would help Palau develop drone applications. She said that as the industry continued to grow, Taiwan would also need more support from its Legislative Yuan to apply drones to the military. Hsiao noted that the initiative with Palau was a starting point for future cooperation with other diplomatic allies, demonstrating the strength of Taiwan’s private sector. She added that the government had plans to develop long-term partnerships tailored to the needs of partner countries. 

In response to media questions, drone expert Chou Kai-yuan said that the expo showcased the diverse operational capabilities of unmanned vehicles. The model on display could be used to train local people in basic drone operations and flying skills, said Chou, adding that it could also deliver emergency supplies to other places, solving the problem of transporting items to outlying islands and remote areas. Given Palau’s large sea area, he noted that drones could carry lifebuoys for search and rescue missions.

Chou said the drone was primarily a basic training model that would be used mainly to familiarize local people with operations and usage. He explained that, depending on future needs, it would be deployed with other mission-oriented vehicles. The program involved the donation for four drones, said Chou, who expressed hope that the technological assistance would enhance Palau’s disaster prevention and medical services.