A Taiwanese Courier Fights in Ukraine’s Army to Gain Battlefield Skills for a Potential War with China

Unofficial Defense Ties Between Kyiv and Taipei

According to ХВИЛЯ: A 37-year-old former courier from Taiwan, identified only as Li, is now serving with the Ukrainian Armed Forces. His goal: acquire real combat experience that could prove vital in a future conflict with China. As Li puts it,

“a war with China will start one day, and when it does, my experience will matter.”

His story highlights a quiet but growing exchange between Ukraine and Taiwan-one that involves drone technology, tactical doctrine, and frontline lessons, all moving through unofficial channels despite the absence of formal diplomatic relations.

Since 1992, Ukraine has adhered to the One China policy, recognizing only Beijing’s government. As a result, Kyiv and Taipei maintain no diplomatic or military ties. Taipei, wary of provoking Beijing-which has an unrestricted partnership with Moscow-avoids open military aid to Ukraine. Yet Ukraine’s drone industry remains heavily reliant on Chinese components, including motors, batteries, and other parts. Taiwan, deeply integrated into China’s economy, has become a key conduit for these components after Beijing cut direct sales to Kyiv.

Drone Exports and Defense Collaboration

According to Samara Durr, a national security analyst at Taiwan’s Research Institute for Democracy, Society and Emerging Technology, Taiwan exported 70,372 drones to the Czech Republic and 31,711 to Poland in 2025. Most of these drones ultimately reached Ukraine via Eastern European charitable networks. Li is part of an informal web that includes private citizens, defense industry executives, and volunteers, all working to build bridges between Ukraine and Taiwan.

Li’s military friends in Taiwan often ask him how to jam a drone electronically or how to evade one. Oleksandr Mashchenko, who transformed his wakeboard manufacturing business into a producer of naval drones under the Strug brand, has received inquiries about maritime systems for defending the Taiwan Strait. Meanwhile, the American company Neros is testing 100 drones in Taiwan based on Ukrainian designs, with CEO Soren Monroe-Anderson stressing the importance of collaboration.

• Auterion, a U.S. company with operations in Ukraine, signed a cooperation agreement last year with a Taiwanese research institute.
• In March, Ukrainian defense startup General Cherry partnered with American firm Wilcox, which sells products in Taiwan.
• President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is pushing for Ukraine to export drones abroad on a subscription model, offering devices with software updates and remote piloting from Ukraine.
• Speaking on condition of anonymity, a source confirmed that one factory producing drones based on Ukrainian designs is located in Taiwan.

Ukraine’s real-world experience with drone warfare is considered extremely valuable. Tsou Yu-hsin, deputy director general of Taiwan’s Industrial Development Bureau under the Ministry of Economic Affairs, confirmed this. Last summer, a Ukrainian drone pilot vacationing in Taipei was invited to address a parliamentary committee on foreign affairs and national defense-a sign of intensifying cooperation amid modern security challenges.

This situation underscores the importance of informal collaboration between Ukraine and Taiwan, operating within the constraints imposed on official relations. Their interaction in defense and technology may help both countries adapt to contemporary security threats, including those posed by China. Continued cooperation in technical fields such as drone manufacturing could become a key factor in strengthening the defensive capabilities of both nations.

As Taiwan continues to enhance its defense capabilities, the recent surge in drone exports to Europe highlights the strategic importance of these technologies in the context of geopolitical tensions. This increase not only supports Ukraine's military efforts but also reflects Taiwan's proactive approach to addressing potential threats from China, emphasizing the interconnectedness of their defense strategies.