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according to taiwanese media reports, executives from 26 u.s. drone and anti-drone system manufacturers arrived in taiwan today (22nd). taiwanese media said that the u.s. personnel are expected to hold a three-day meeting with taiwanese drone industry professionals, taiwanese military officials responsible for weapons procurement and research and development, and other researchers and engineering experts.

according to reports, the delegation included aerovironment, the manufacturer of the infamous "switchblade" suicide drone. in addition, other us companies that made the visit included anti-drone system supplier dedrone and contractor northrop grumman, which wanted to make a big push into the taiwan market.

it is worth noting that in may 2023, aerospace environmental corporation accompanied the us delegation to visit the "zhongshan institute of science and technology" in taiwan, which is responsible for the development of military technology and weapons, and related drone companies to discuss the development and production of drones in taiwan. on january 7, 2024, in accordance with the "anti-foreign sanctions law of the people's republic of china", china decided to impose sanctions on the us military enterprise aerospace environmental corporation.

last year, the news that the taiwan military planned to purchase switchblade drones from the united states through arms sales in 2024 and deploy them in taiwan’s "army special operations forces" and "marine corps" also caused considerable public opinion on the island.

taiwan current affairs commentator jie wenqi criticized this, saying that the "switchblade" is a weapon placed at the doorstep of every taiwanese citizen. experts pointed out that the flight distance and endurance of the "switchblade" attack drone determine that it can only fight at short range, and the combat scene is on the island of taiwan, relying on towns and complex terrain to carry out combat operations. once taiwan island becomes a battlefield, the only ones who will be sacrificed in the end will be the taiwanese people.

regarding the u.s. drone manufacturer's entry into taiwan, netizens on the island commented, "they are here to cheat money again. the partners are fake, but the atm is real." some netizens also bluntly said, "all the parts for taiwan's drones are from the mainland. if they really want to cooperate, they may have chosen the wrong partner."

the spokesperson of the ministry of foreign affairs has repeatedly stated that the sale of weapons by the united states to the taiwan region of china seriously violates the one-china principle and the provisions of the three sino-us joint communiqués, especially the "august 17" communiqué, and seriously damages china's sovereignty and security interests, and seriously damages sino-us relations and peace and stability in the taiwan strait. china is strongly dissatisfied with this and firmly opposes it. it urges the united states to immediately stop selling weapons to taiwan and military contacts between the united states and taiwan. china will take resolute and forceful measures to defend its national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

(source: watch the taiwan strait)