The US Department of Commerce recently said it would withdraw a previously proposed policy to impose a blanket ban on imports of Chinese-made drones, easing immediate regulatory pressure but reviving questions in some quarters about the trajectory of non-China drone supply chains. Taiwanese chipmakers that have invested heavily in drone-related technologies have taken a more measured stance, saying that policy adjustments in Washington have not altered the underlying demand for non-China supply chains, particularly in defense applications.

At least one of the US Air Force's most secretive drones, the RQ-170 Sentinel, may have supported the US operation on January 3 that saw the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, according to foreign media reports and analysis by defense observers.

China has maintained a clear lead over the US in drone-related technology patents since 2016, highlighting a widening technology gap as Taiwan seeks to expand its domestic drone industry and reduce reliance on China-centric supply chains. The divergence underscores the scale of the challenge facing Taiwan at a time when governments worldwide are accelerating procurement of unmanned systems and reassessing supply chain security.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will block the sale of foreign-made drones in the US, a decision believed to target Chinese market leader DJI and could prompt Taiwanese suppliers to accelerate investment in US manufacturing.

Taiwan-based circuit protection component maker Polytronics said its business likely hit a trough in 2025 and is poised for recovery next year, as US defense-related demand for thermal management substrates begins to return after tariff-driven order volatility disrupted shipments.