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Taiwan shows off its drones as key to 'asymmetric warfare'

In a rare display of its drone capabilities, the military-owned National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST), showed off its latest models, including the Albatross II surveillance drone, and combat drones that operate with global positioning system satellites.

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Taiwan shows off its drones as key to asymmetric warfare

President Tsai Ing-wen has championed the idea of "asymmetric warfare" to make Taiwan's forces more mobile and harder to attack.

Taiwan's armed forces are well-equipped but still dwarfed by China's.

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Taiwan shows off its drones as key to asymmetric warfare

Among the drones on display was an attack drone with loitering munitions that can cruise towards a target before plummeting at velocity and detonating on impact.

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Taiwan shows off its drones as key to asymmetric warfare

China has sent its drones to areas close to Taiwan to test its responses, the island's defence ministry has said.

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Taiwan shows off its drones as key to asymmetric warfare

Last year, Taiwan shot down a civilian drone that entered its airspace near an islet off the Chinese coast.

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Taiwan shows off its drones as key to asymmetric warfare

The island's defence ministry said in a report to parliament this week, a copy of which was reviewed by Reuters, that China was quickly building up its combat capacity with drones, including swarms of flying robots.

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Taiwan shows off its drones as key to asymmetric warfare

In response, Taiwan will focus on developing its combat and surveillance drones, as well as anti-drone systems, the ministry said.