Taiwan defense minister silent on reported U.S. defense posting

Taipei, Aug. 28 (CNA) Taiwan's defense minister on Thursday declined to discuss cooperation with the United States' Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), following a media report that Washington plans to post a representative in Taipei to boost drone collaboration.

The Financial Times reported Wednesday that the DIU plans to assign liaisons to allies and partners across the Indo-Pacific, Europe and the Middle East as staff become available, citing three sources.

As part of those plans, the DIU will send a representative to Taiwan this year to accelerate drone cooperation and tap into the local tech sector, the report said. The liaison is expected to be stationed at the American Institute in Taiwan, Washington's de facto embassy, before the end of the year.

"Drones will certainly be a focus, but they will also be looking at connecting to the broader civilian and dual-use ecosystem, including the tech sector," the report quoted one source as saying.

The move is part of a broader plan to send liaisons to allied countries to counter China's rapid military buildup, according to the newspaper.

Asked about the report before a legislative meeting Thursday, Defense Minister Wellington Koo (顧立雄) said the ministry maintains close exchanges with U.S. defense agencies, including the DIU, but declined to elaborate.