"Drone diplomacy" has become an important policy to promote international cooperation. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs purchased 145 drones and donated them to friendly countries.

"Drone diplomacy" has become one of my country's important policies to promote international cooperation. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has purchased a total of about 145 drones, both "training" and "multi-purpose", such as for agriculture or logistics, which will be donated to friendly countries in the second half of this year. In addition, the "International Drone Academy" (GUAVA), a consortium established with assistance, will set up physical offices in Taipei and Chiayi. It is currently preparing for the office. In the future, it will also cooperate with foreign institutions to set up overseas branches, which will become the best support for me to promote drone diplomacy around the world.

"Drone diplomacy" borrows from the concept of "chip diplomacy" to transform my country's advantageous industrial strength into diplomatic influence. In fact, Foreign Minister Lin Jialong recently visited Palau to attend activities related to the "Pacific Islands Forum" summit, and presented drones to friendly countries during the "Taiwan Night in Palau".

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The latest policy address released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Executive Yuan stated that "drone diplomacy" can be used as a wing of the "Rongbang Plan" under the "comprehensive diplomacy" framework. Drones can be embedded in concepts such as smart agriculture, maritime patrol, disaster prevention, medical supplies, digital governance and sovereign AI, becoming the most representative spillover technology from a solid state to a prosperous state.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs pointed out that assisting AIA in building the resilience of UAVs should be done step by step. The first phase will focus on "cultivating pilot talents." A total of about 145 drones, including "training" and "multi-function", have been purchased and will be donated to AIA one after another. The UAV will also simultaneously develop the use of AIA's flying test sites, assist AIA's verification mechanism standards and develop relevant regulations, so as to establish and expand the overseas market for UAVs.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs established the "Drone Diplomacy Group" in October last year to actively promote industry-government-academic resources and assist in the establishment of a professional non-governmental organization GUAVA. As an NGO, it assists the government in promoting the flexibility of international cooperation on drones. It plans to set up physical offices in Taipei and Chiayi in the second half of this year, and will also cooperate with foreign institutions to establish overseas branches in the future.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained that GUAVA will take promoting international cooperation in unmanned vehicles as its core mission, cultivate transnational professional talents through education and training, and connect resources such as industrial alliances, research and development technology, and certification mechanisms to become Taiwan's hub for unmanned vehicle talent, certification, maintenance, legal compliance, and system export. It is also a key fulcrum for Taiwan to move from "product export" to "system export," and enhance Taiwan's global influence in the field of unmanned vehicles.

In fact, GUAVA signed a letter of intent for cooperation with the American Association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) in the name of the preparatory office in May, which will help promote UAV cooperation between Taiwan and the United States. In July, GUAVA signed a letter of intent for cooperation with the "Japan Drone Consortium" (JDC) to strengthen cooperation between Taiwan and Japan.