Taiwan's Interior Ministry audits drone purchases tied to Chinese-chip scandal
Taiwan's government is scrambling to check its own drone purchases after a local maker was accused of secretly using Chinese-made chips in drones sold to the military — bad news for the company, but a sign Taiwan is tightening its guard against Chinese tech sneaking into sensitive equipment.
- A Taiwanese drone maker is accused of supplying the military with drones containing Chinese-made chips, and the company's owners have been detained pending investigation.
- Taiwan's Interior Ministry found three agencies under it had bought 32 drones linked to that same company, including its national park agency, a police university, and its immigration agency.
- The immigration agency's drone order hasn't been delivered yet, so the ministry is ordering the supplier not to hand over any drones made by the flagged company or containing Chinese parts.
- Authorities say future drone purchases must avoid supply chains linked to China, and they'll seek damages from contractors who break the rules.
Outlook: Expect stricter vetting of drone suppliers across Taiwan's government, with possible contract cancellations or legal action against companies tied to Chinese components.