Kuan Bi-ling

Now to defense developments.

Taiwan's Coast Guard administration showcased its new unmanned air and sea systems on Tuesday ahead of the National Day Parade, with Ocean Affairs Council Minister Kuan-Bi Ling revealing that the first batch of VBAT ship-launched drones purchased from U.S. firm Shield AI has arrived in Taiwan.

The systems were bought under a $1.2 billion New Taiwan Dollar program covering six systems and 12 VBAT aircraft.

Kuan and National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu inspected the equipment at Taipei Port, where the Jump 20 vertical takeoff drone and an unmanned surface vessel were displayed alongside assault boats, radar and thermal imaging vehicles.