"Turn Taiwan into a Hornet's Nest of Drones"... China Claims "Creating Noise"

Raymond Greene, Director of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Taipei Office, who serves as the de facto U.S. ambassador to Taiwan, has emphasized the need to build a drone defense network to strengthen Taiwan's security.
In his congratulatory remarks at the "Leading 2026: Taichung Drone Industry and Overseas Business Opportunities Forum" held in Taiwan on July 2 (local time), Director Greene stated that the drone industry presents a historic economic opportunity for both the United States and Taiwan.
He stressed, "If we can turn Taiwan into a hornet's nest of drones, we can effectively deter conflict," adding that "the U.S. is already prepared to be a partner in realizing this vision."
His remarks are interpreted as a call to densely deploy aerial, maritime, and underwater drone assets across Taiwan to enhance deterrence against Chinese military actions.
Referencing the war in Ukraine, he added, "Drones have boosted the capabilities of the defense side even in overwhelmingly disadvantageous situations," noting that "this is an advantage for Taiwan."
The Taiwanese government is pushing to strengthen asymmetric warfare capabilities, including drones, citing the growing military threat from China.
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te also emphasized the urgency of expanding drone capabilities during a meeting of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party yesterday, stating, "Facing changes in the geopolitical landscape and the evolution of modern warfare, building asymmetric power is a national defense project where every second counts."
Director Greene, who has been speaking publicly on Taiwan issues recently, previously stated in an interview with the local Taiwanese media outlet United Daily News on June 24 that "the best foundation for cross-strait dialogue is maintaining the status quo."
In that interview, he indirectly criticized China's stance of making the acceptance of the "1992 Consensus" (an agreement in 1992 to acknowledge "one China" while using respective designations) a prerequisite for cross-strait dialogue, saying, "China demanding preconditions before dialogue is not helpful for constructive conversation."
While Chinese authorities did not mention Director Greene by name, they expressed discomfort, seemingly targeting his remarks regarding cross-strait relations.
Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, China's agency in charge of Taiwan affairs, criticized him during a regular press conference today, saying, "Some people are running around, paying lip service to U.S. President Trump's position on Taiwan while creating noise on the Taiwan issue."
She continued, "They are slandering the mainland's Taiwan policy, and their intentions are malicious," adding that China "firmly opposes this." (Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.