Taiwan’s air force confirmed on Tuesday that its order for four advanced U.S.-made MQ-9B “SkyGuardian” drones remains unaffected by ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The drones, manufactured by General Atomics, are designed for surveillance and target acquisition, with the first two units expected later this year.
The military stressed that despite the strain on U.S. weapons stockpiles caused by operations in Iran, Gaza, and the ongoing war in Ukraine, deliveries to Taiwan have not been impacted. “The military remains in close contact with the U.S. side to ensure progress stays on track and to effectively strengthen overall national defense capabilities,” the statement said.
Defense Minister Addresses Supply Concerns
Speaking at parliament, Wellington Koo confirmed that Taiwan had not been approached about transferring weapons to the Middle East. He added that any redeployment of U.S.-supplied military equipment would occur only if explicitly requested by the United States.
The MQ-9 series has seen combat use internationally, including by Israel in Gaza. Taiwan, facing heightened military pressure from China, continues to reject Beijing’s sovereignty claims and seeks to maintain robust defense capabilities with U.S. support.
Regional Context
Taiwan is not alone in closely monitoring U.S. weapons deployments. Lee Jae Myung noted that South Korea cannot prevent U.S. forces from redeploying some assets, referencing reports of Patriot missile systems being sent to the Middle East.
