For German companies looking to diversify their supply of drones beyond China and bypass its dominance of the global drone market, Taiwan is starting to look increasingly attractive.

A report published this month by DSET, a Taiwanese think tank focusing on democracy, society and emerging technology, shows that Germany has become the second-largest importer of Taiwan-made drones in the first quarter of 2025.

"We are trying to become more independent from China [regarding drones]," Verena Jackson, a researcher at the Center for Intelligence and Security Studies (CISS) at the University of the Armed Forces of Germany, told DW.

Beijing sees Taiwan, a self-ruled island, as a breakaway province, and is actively discouraging diplomatic and trade ties between Taipei and other nations.

Due to Germany's close economic cooperation with China, Beijing is likely to bristle at the idea of Berlin turning to Taiwan-made drones or key components as alternatives to Chinese ones.

Although China still dominates the drone market with an estimated 70-80% share of worldwide production, Taiwan is emerging as "a rising star" in the supply chain, Jackson said.

"The advantage for Taiwanese companies is that we are trying to do everything China-free. That has a very big attraction for our European partners," Hong-Lun Tiunn, Deputy Director of the National Security Program at DSET, told DW.

Since 2022, Taiwan has stepped up its efforts to develop its own........

© Deutsche Welle