Taiwan’s Common Wealth Magazine on June 27 reported an important private-sector, drone deal between India and Taiwan that happened in late April after the Pahalgam attack and before the launch of India’s Operation Sindoor against several terrorist-linked infrastructure facilities inside Pakistan on May 7.

The Indo-Pacific Politics interviewed, Sameer Patil, the Director of the Centre for Security, Strategy and Technology at the India based Observer Research Foundation to gauge the strategic significance of this deal.

“Taiwanese and Indian companies are looking at exploring synergies and thinking of developing a ‘trusted’ supply chain ecosystem for electronics and defence equipment is hugely significant.”

Sameer Patil, ORF

Indo-Pacific Politics (IPP): A drone deal unacknowledged by either government has happened in the India-Taiwan private sector between Taiwan’s AVIX Tech and India’s OUS in late April. What’s the strategic significance of this? 

Sameer Patil: In my view, this drone deal appears to be as of now a commercial transaction. Therefore, it is difficult to gauge the long-term importance of this deal. However, the mere fact that Taiwanese and Indian companies are looking at exploring synergies and thinking of developing a ‘trusted’ supply chain ecosystem for electronics and defence equipment is hugely significant. As the recent India-Pakistan conflict shown, drones have emerged as a significant component of modern warfighting. Therefore, the collaboration between the private sectors of the two sides, even if commercial, demonstrates the awareness of each other’s technological strengths and market prospects.

IPP: Do you think India-Taiwan strategic partnership is a counter to China-Pakistan strategic partnership? 

Sameer Patil: I don’t look at the India-Taiwan partnership as a counter to the China-Pakistan strategic partnership. The latter has completely different dynamics than the former. In my opinion, it is important to divest the India-Taiwan collaboration from this perspective and look at the partnership from the strengths and synergies that the two sides bring to the table. As resilient democracies, India and Taiwan have much more to contribute to regional security and prosperity.

“As resilient democracies, India and Taiwan have much more to contribute to regional security and prosperity.”  

Sameer Patil, ORF

IPP: How’s semiconductor/AI technology participating in India-Taiwan strategic partnership? How are drones important in this emerging context? 

Sameer Patil: In my view, tech collaboration between India and Taiwan including on semiconductors and drones signify that the two sides have realized the imperative for stepping up their collaboration and harness each other’s technological and commercial strengths. It is important to look at this collaboration on its own merit.

IPP: What kind of tech-strategic partnership do you see emerging between India and Taiwan in this decade? Do you also foresee joint manufacturing of drones and other military technology? 

Sameer Patil: It is too early to say something about this certainly prospects do exist to explore on this front.