Taiwan's Drone Budget Cut, Australian General Warns of Increased Risk of China Cutting Off Supplies
Australian retired Major General Mick Ryan warns that Taiwan's cut in domestic drone budget will increase reliance on US weapons, raising the risk of China intercepting weapon supplies. He also points out that China's denial of the Taiwan Strait median line is a serious issue for regional security.
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- 📰 Published: May 12, 2026 at 17:07
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Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Chiu Te-chen, Sydney 12th) Australian retired Major General Mick Ryan told the Central News Agency that Taiwan's passage of the National Defense Special Act, but with a cut in the budget for domestically produced drones, will increase its reliance on US weapons, and the risk of Taiwan's weapon sources being intercepted by China will increase accordingly.
Ryan pointed out in a phone interview with the Central News Agency today that although Taiwan is committed to manufacturing drones, and recent production capacity has increased to 100,000 units per year, the Taiwanese parliament's cut in the budget for domestically produced drones has cut off the seed funding to promote the expansion of Taiwan's autonomous drone production, which will inevitably harm Taiwan's national security.
He said: "Taiwan is far from US suppliers, and as an island nation, it must be wary of the problem that critical US imported weapon supplies could be intercepted once a military conflict occurs."
Ryan mentioned that he had just completed a field visit and exchange in Taiwan in April, and he believes that Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense is well aware that drones and missiles are equally important defensive weapons.
Ryan stated that he is optimistic about the prospects of Taiwan's self-made drones, but he also warned that with the cut in the domestic drone budget, Taiwan will have to deal with higher security risks. He said: "Taiwan cannot autonomously build a sufficient number of drones, so it can only rely more on imported US arms. Although the quality of US arms is excellent, this will create a supply dependence, and once war breaks out, China can more easily cut off such arms supply sources."
Understanding the Taiwan Strait Median Line
The Taiwan Strait median line is generally considered to have been drawn by then-Commander of the US 13th Air Task Force in Taiwan, Brigadier General Benjamin O. Davis Jr., to ensure stability across the strait when the US Seventh Fleet assisted in Taiwan's defense, hence it is also known as the "Davis Line."
The Ministry of National Defense announced in 2019 that the coordinates of the Taiwan Strait median line are "27 degrees North latitude, 122 degrees East longitude, 23 degrees North latitude, 118 degrees East longitude," which is consistent with the explanation given by former Minister of National Defense Lee Jye during an interpellation in the Legislative Yuan in May 2004.
China's official Xinhua News Agency published a report on May 9 titled "Ministry of National Defense Spokesperson Releases Information and Answers Reporter Questions on Recent Military Issues," which mentioned that a reporter asked about the recent joint combat readiness patrols by the PLA's naval and air forces around Taiwan, the entry of main combat ship formations into the southwestern waters of Penghu, and the increasing number of PLA aircraft and vessels crossing the "Taiwan Strait median line." In response, Jiang Bin stated that Taiwan is part of China and there is no "Taiwan Strait median line."
Ryan pointed out that the Chinese military's denial of the existence of the Taiwan Strait median line is a very serious issue. "China's claim that the 'median line' does not exist is tantamount to claiming that China does not need to delineate a buffer zone with one of its provinces."
He believes that as the meeting between US President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping approaches, the timing of China's denial of the Taiwan Strait median line's existence is even more noteworthy. He said: "The act of denying the Taiwan Strait median line violates long-standing norms of military conduct, and it occurs as the Trump-Xi summit approaches, which will undoubtedly cause deep unease among all parties; not only the Taiwanese government will be uneasy, but also Japan, the Philippines, and the Trump administration." Ryan stated that China's blatant disregard for the sovereignty of other countries will inevitably cast a shadow over the security and stability of the Indo-Pacific region. He said: "This stance of not recognizing the sovereignty of other countries may extend beyond Taiwan; China has taken similar actions on issues such as the Diaoyu Islands and the South China Sea." (Editor: Tang Sheng-yang) 1150512
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(Central News Agency reporter Chiu Te-chen, Sydney 12th) Australian retired Major General Mick Ryan told the Central News Agency that Taiwan's passage of the National Defense Special Act, but with a cut in the budget for domestically produced drones, will increase its reliance on US weapons, and the risk of Taiwan's weapon sources being intercepted by China will increase accordingly.
Ryan pointed out in a phone interview with the Central News Agency today that although Taiwan is committed to manufacturing drones, and recent production capacity has increased to 100,000 units per year, the Taiwanese parliament's cut in the budget for domestically produced drones has cut off the seed funding to promote the expansion of Taiwan's autonomous drone production, which will inevitably harm Taiwan's national security.
He said: "Taiwan is far from US suppliers, and as an island nation, it must be wary of the problem that critical US imported weapon supplies could be intercepted once a military conflict occurs."
Ryan mentioned that he had just completed a field visit and exchange in Taiwan in April, and he believes that Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense is well aware that drones and missiles are equally important defensive weapons.
Ryan stated that he is optimistic about the prospects of Taiwan's self-made drones, but he also warned that with the cut in the domestic drone budget, Taiwan will have to deal with higher security risks. He said: "Taiwan cannot autonomously build a sufficient number of drones, so it can only rely more on imported US arms. Although the quality of US arms is excellent, this will create a supply dependence, and once war breaks out, China can more easily cut off such arms supply sources."
Understanding the Taiwan Strait Median Line
The Taiwan Strait median line is generally considered to have been drawn by then-Commander of the US 13th Air Task Force in Taiwan, Brigadier General Benjamin O. Davis Jr., to ensure stability across the strait when the US Seventh Fleet assisted in Taiwan's defense, hence it is also known as the "Davis Line."
The Ministry of National Defense announced in 2019 that the coordinates of the Taiwan Strait median line are "27 degrees North latitude, 122 degrees East longitude, 23 degrees North latitude, 118 degrees East longitude," which is consistent with the explanation given by former Minister of National Defense Lee Jye during an interpellation in the Legislative Yuan in May 2004.
China's official Xinhua News Agency published a report on May 9 titled "Ministry of National Defense Spokesperson Releases Information and Answers Reporter Questions on Recent Military Issues," which mentioned that a reporter asked about the recent joint combat readiness patrols by the PLA's naval and air forces around Taiwan, the entry of main combat ship formations into the southwestern waters of Penghu, and the increasing number of PLA aircraft and vessels crossing the "Taiwan Strait median line." In response, Jiang Bin stated that Taiwan is part of China and there is no "Taiwan Strait median line."
Ryan pointed out that the Chinese military's denial of the existence of the Taiwan Strait median line is a very serious issue. "China's claim that the 'median line' does not exist is tantamount to claiming that China does not need to delineate a buffer zone with one of its provinces."
He believes that as the meeting between US President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping approaches, the timing of China's denial of the Taiwan Strait median line's existence is even more noteworthy. He said: "The act of denying the Taiwan Strait median line violates long-standing norms of military conduct, and it occurs as the Trump-Xi summit approaches, which will undoubtedly cause deep unease among all parties; not only the Taiwanese government will be uneasy, but also Japan, the Philippines, and the Trump administration." Ryan stated that China's blatant disregard for the sovereignty of other countries will inevitably cast a shadow over the security and stability of the Indo-Pacific region. He said: "This stance of not recognizing the sovereignty of other countries may extend beyond Taiwan; China has taken similar actions on issues such as the Diaoyu Islands and the South China Sea." (Editor: Tang Sheng-yang) 1150512
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency's "First-hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.