Taiwan's unmanned drones were able to detect military activity from China's southeastern coast after it expanded airspace deployment from over eastern and southern Taiwan to airspace over the Taiwan Strait, according to a military official.

The unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were developed by the National Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology and has to date, produced 32 drones for Taiwan's ministry of defense.

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Further, it was reported that the Ministry of Defense has been discussing with the Civil Aeronautics Administration over a possible second drone base in a portion of the Hengchun airport, Pingtung in southwest Taiwan.

Pingtung is believed to be a strategic location for Taipei if it hopes to boost surveillance efforts in China's southeastern coast.

Currently, the 32 UAVs are based in Taimali in southeast Taitung County where drone training exercises are also held.

Sources from Taiwan's defense ministry said the air force's training airspace is within the range of China's deployed missiles in the southeast, thereby making it impossible for the air force to access the area - but probably not for the UVAs.

The ministry is still undecided on UAV deployment in western Taiwan.

Meanwhile, the U.S. has voiced concerns over Taiwan's UAV project and demanded that the Ministry of Defense send its drone specialists to Washington to brief the U.S. Department of Defense before a meeting on military issues attended by top officials was to take place, the Taipei Times has learned.

According to the Liberty Times, the U.S. has been conducting military surveillance on China through its high-altitude drone, Global Hawk.

The unnamed official speculated it was likely Washington was interested with Taiwan's drone project since the deployment of U.S. drones to Asia was a costly operation rife with military and political issues that hinder UVA deployment in the area.

Although relations between China and Taiwan have improved in recent years, Beijing warns of retribution should Taiwan declare independence. The Diplomat noted that China is believed to have some 2,000 missiles aimed at Taiwan for such an event.

TagsGlobal Hawk, unmanned aerial vehicle, UAV, Chungshan Institute, China-Taiwan relations, China-US relations, Taiwan-US relations, surveillance drones, armed drones