Inspired by Ukraine, and worried by China: Taiwan teaches its citizens how to fly drones

Taiwan has launched its first civil defence drone training programme, drawing on lessons from Ukraine’s war with Russia to prepare citizens for potential military threats from China. The course, run by civil defence NGO Kuma Academy, began in May and has already sold out sessions through August, with capacity for about 75 trainees each month [1]. Pan Chien-chin, a 48-year-old food company worker, attended an introductory class in Taipei where he piloted a drone through a course marked by traffic cones. “It’s like giving myself another skill, something I can use if it’s ever needed one day,” he said [1]. The programme reflects a broader expansion of civil defence activity across the island. More than 30 volunteer-led groups now offer emergency rescue and first aid training [1]. Tang Tsung-yi, a Kuma Academy spokesperson, said the drone course helps beginners understand battlefield capabilities and shifts participants “from passive defence like sheltering to a more active role in observing risks and sharing information” [1]. Registered drones in Taiwan surpassed 39,000 in December, and the Civil Aviation Administration lowered the minimum registration age to 14 in 2024 [1]. Some Taipei high schools have begun summer camps teaching students to assemble drones and use them for search-and-rescue operations [1]. The training uses Taiwanese-made drones weighing less than 100 grams, without GPS or self-driving technology, so operators learn manual flight by sight — a precaution against electronic jamming that can disable commercial automated systems in combat [1]. In Ukraine, military officials estimate drones account for 60% of Russians killed and wounded, underscoring the tactical shift that has inspired Taiwan’s programme [1]. Taiwan produces some weapons domestically but remains heavily reliant on US arms sales for major defence systems [1]. A $14bn US arms package for the island has yet to be signed by President Donald Trump following his meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing last month [1]. Beijing, the capital of China, is a global political and financial centre with more than 22 million residents [8]. For participants like Pan, political uncertainty reinforces the motivation to train. “We can’t change the broader environment, so the only thing we can do is prepare ourselves as best we can,” he said [1].