American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Director Raymond Greene spoke in a TVBS News interview on Friday, March 27, in favor of the recently proposed special defense budget. Greene stated that it will effectively enhance deterrence capabilities, particularly in the production of drones and other unmanned systems.

According to a subsequent AIT Facebook post, Greene added that many in Taiwanese society have expressed support for the special defense budget, believing it will help boost economic benefits. He pointed out that Taiwan possesses a strong industrial manufacturing base, enabling these capabilities to be rapidly translated into substantial combat power.

Regarding the nature of warfare, Greene mentioned in the interview that both the Russia-Ukraine war and conflicts in the Middle East demonstrate that new technologies, particularly unmanned and AI, are greatly impacting the battlefield. He pointed out that the special defense budget focuses on these areas to boost asymmetric warfare characteristics and can potentially play a significant role in deterring conflict.

On energy issues, Greene also pointed out that Asian countries are recognizing the risks of supply disruptions and are therefore promoting the diversification of energy sources. He stated that the United States, as one of the world's largest energy producers, hopes to deepen cooperation with partners such as Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea to provide these alternative sources. Greene said that the new contract signed between Taiwan's CPC Corporation and Cheniere Energy for importing liquefied natural gas from the U.S. Gulf Coast is a positive step forward in Taiwan's energy diversification strategy.