Jan-Chemisin Broomby

Taiwan needs to learn from wars in Ukraine and the Middle East and spend smarter on its defense.

That's the message from Raymond Green, director of the American Institute in Taiwan, the USA's de facto embassy on the island.

Green says, quote, drones are changing the character of warfare.

Investing in unmanned systems would be a way for Taiwan to increase deterrence against China, he said.

The comments come after Secretary of State Marco Rubio said a US$14 billion arms package to Taiwan remains under review.

For NPR News, I'm Jan Kamsenbrumby in Taipei.