Why Poland Is Turning to Taiwan for Drones Amid Europe’s Push for Non-China Defense Supply Chains

Poland has quietly become the world's largest buyer of Taiwanese drones by 2025, with imports accounting for nearly 60% of Taiwan's total drone export value. Taiwan and Poland have also recently signed a cooperation memorandum focusing on establishing a "non-China" supply chain in the drone industry. However, whether this emerging supply chain to Europe represents only a short-term procurement peak or an early signal of deeper adjustments in European security and defense thinking remains to be observed. Nevertheless, this not only demonstrates that Taiwanese drones have passed real combat tests, but also shows that European countries are actively seeking "de-Sinicization" defense alternatives to guard against Russia.

According toChina Observers, University of Canterbury researcher Konrad Szatters wrote in "China Observers in Central and Eastern Europe" (CHOICE) that Poland's large-scale procurement of Taiwanese drones demonstrates how the country is advancing its remilitarization process against the backdrop of escalating Russian threats, deepening suspicions about China and its technology, and insufficient supply capacity of Europe's own defense industry.

As the Ukraine war continues to influence the defense planning of EU countries, unmanned systems have become indispensable tools for surveillance, reconnaissance, and various military operations. For Poland, which is located on the eastern flank of the EU and NATO and faces direct security pressure, it must find drone suppliers that can deliver quickly, supply in large quantities, and pose relatively low political risks.

Taiwanese drone manufacturers have gradually built a good reputation in recent years, with their products being reasonably priced, highly durable, and having undergone real combat or quasi-combat testing in harsh environments. The experience of Taiwanese drones being used by Ukrainian forces has also enhanced their credibility in the eyes of European military forces that are closely monitoring the war.

Like most European countries, Poland still relies to some extent on Chinese supply chains and imports various industrial and manufacturing products. However, as suspicions about China escalate and concerns grow about export restrictions during critical moments of geopolitical tension, the Polish government has begun actively seeking alternatives.

While European manufacturers can build technically advanced systems, they still find it difficult to provide the vast quantities needed for current military expansion; American drones remain crucial, but pricing and regulations often slow down procurement progress, a problem that has only begun to be addressed in recent years.

Under such conditions, Taiwan happens to be in the "middle ground" - with low supply barriers and high reliability, and relatively limited political complexity for EU governments hoping to reduce dependence on Chinese technology. For Poland, which emphasizes efficiency and delivery speed, Taiwanese drones have thus become a practical and attractive option.

For Taiwan, Poland's procurement choice brings substantial opportunities. Supplying large quantities of drones to a key member state on NATO's eastern flank not only enhances the visibility of Taiwanese companies but also proves that Taiwan's contribution to European security extends beyond semiconductors. Such cooperation also allows Taiwan to establish practical bilateral connections with member states without relying on formal diplomacy with the EU, while shaping an image of being "willing to help Europe resist aggressive neighbors." Theoretically, this might make Europe more willing to consider helping Taiwan face military pressure from China in the future, which is also an expectation publicly expressed by Taiwan's Defense Minister Wellington Koo (顧立雄).

However, Taiwan also clearly understands that such relationships must be handled carefully. Any level of EU-Taiwan cooperation, especially involving defense issues, even if limited in scale, could still trigger China's political attention and become material for related narratives and disinformation. Although Beijing has not yet formally responded to Poland's increased imports of drones from Taiwan, such developments are bound to receive attention.

Not only Poland, but Central and Eastern European countries including Lithuania and the Czech Republic, are also gradually restricting the use of mainland Chinese equipment in critical infrastructure and security sectors. Taiwanese drones are entering the market at this moment, perfectly positioning themselves in the niche market of "Non-China Supply Chain."

According to Central News Agency reports, promoting non-China supply chains, Taiwan's drone national team has shown results in market expansion. According to customs data, drone export value in the first six months of 2025 was USD$11.89 million (approximately NTD$350 million), growing 7.49 times compared to the same period last year, with exports to Poland leading the way. Drone exports to Poland in the first half of the year amounted to USD$6.48 million, far higher than other export regions.

Export value to the United States was USD$1.549 million, ranking second, with a 209% year-over-year increase; Germany ranked third with USD$1.458 million, growing 258 times compared to the same period last year. Additionally, while there were no records of Taiwanese drone exports to the Czech Republic in past years, recent customs data shows that the Czech Republic has become Taiwan's fourth-largest drone export market in the first half of the year, with Hong Kong ranking fifth. （Related： Chinese Drone Intrudes Into Airspace Over South China Sea Island Controlled by Taiwan ｜ Latest ）

TAITRA analysis indicates that under changing geopolitical circumstances, the EU is actively promoting supply chain de-Sinicization and democratization. Taiwan's drone industry has become a new option for European buyers by leveraging its ICT capabilities, production flexibility, and democratic background.