Taiwan’s top diplomat pressed European leaders Saturday to forge dependable AI and drone supply chain partnerships, framing the collaboration as critical for both economic resilience and national security.
Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung made the pitch at the Formosa Club’s annual gathering in Taipei. The group connects European parliamentarians who back Taiwan. Lin argued that Taiwan’s chip manufacturing, AI servers, and growing drone sector pair naturally with Europe’s strengths in advanced manufacturing and industrial technology.
“These require trusted partners because they directly involve national security and critical infrastructure,” he said.
The minister pointed to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as proof that overreliance on a single supplier can turn into a weapon. Taiwan, he argued, offers a partnership built on trust and democratic values. The island nation now builds out a full drone ecosystem spanning hardware, key components, and cybersecurity standards.
Citing one concrete example, Lin mentioned a technology park proposed in Poland by the Taiwan Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers’ Association. That project would target AI data centers, smart cities, and electric vehicles.
Lin also called for democracies to jointly counter transnational repression. He accused China of weaponizing domestic laws to reach beyond its borders and chill free expression. “No country should be allowed to utilize domestic law as an instrument for exporting a chilling effect beyond its own borders,” he said.
Michael Gahler, a European Parliament member chairing the conference, urged governments to convert parliamentary goodwill toward Taiwan into lasting institutional cooperation. He pushed for arrangements that ease investment in both directions, saying the substance matters more than the label.
Gahler noted Europe could deepen practical ties with Taiwan while keeping its “one China” policies, which he distinguished from Beijing’s “one China” principle. He also warned that democracies must coordinate responses to prolonged threats from Russia and China, including war, hybrid attacks, and economic coercion.
The foreign ministry and the Formosa Club will co-host a forum Tuesday on Taiwan-Europe cooperation in AI and drone technology.
