Taipei:Defense company executives highlighted the need for Taiwan to develop autonomous capabilities to enhance decision-making efficiency during wartime and manage resources effectively during peacetime.

According to Focus Taiwan, Mira Resnick, a senior director at Saronic Technologies, addressed Taiwan's potential vulnerability to China's attrition tactics at the 2026 Aerospace and Defense Strategic Forum. This vulnerability arises from Taiwan's current practice of using crewed navy and coast guard vessels to shadow Chinese naval and maritime militia vessels, which could deplete Taiwan's resources without direct conflict.

Resnick emphasized that Taiwan faces a critical choice between remotely controlled and autonomous unmanned surface vessels, as China has heavily invested in electronic warfare that could disrupt communication links. She advocated for the use of autonomous surface vessels with modular payloads to effectively counter China's maritime presence and support Taiwan's defensive strategies.

Alex Chang, head of Anduril Taiwan, explained that autonomy in defense systems is crucial for rapid response in modern warfare, where commanders have limited time to react to threats. He argued that autonomous systems can integrate disparate data and maintain functionality even in compromised environments, thus providing Taiwan with a strategic advantage.

Chang also pointed out that while China may use artificial intelligence to limit human decision-making, Taiwan should focus on empowering commanders and units with greater autonomy and connectivity, allowing for more innovative strategies to achieve their mission objectives.