A Czech business delegation led by Senator Pavel Fischer participated in the Taipei Aerospace and Defense Technology Exhibition (TADTE) 2025, held from September 18–20.
This year’s edition marked a significant leap compared to 2023—the exhibition area nearly doubled in size, showcasing Taiwan’s expanding capabilities in aviation, defense, and space technologies, including an extensive portfolio of drones designed for operations both above and below the sea surface.
The Czech delegation of twenty members, organized with the support of the Czech-Taiwanese Business Chamber and the Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic, recorded a stronger presence than in the previous edition. During the mission, Senator Fischer met with senior representatives of Taiwan’s key ministries—including Industry and Commerce, Foreign Affairs, and Defense—as well as the National Security Council and the Legislative Yuan.
"The Czech Republic and Taiwan both have strong traditions in the aerospace and defense industries. It’s not realistic that we would sell complete systems to one another. The real potential lies in integrating into each other’s supply chains and leveraging the best that each country has to offer," said Pavel Diviš, Chairman of the Czech-Taiwanese Business Chamber.
At TADTE, Czech companies presented technologies that have already achieved success in international markets. For some, Taiwan represents the next step in their regional expansion; for others, it serves as a strategic gateway to the broader Asia-Pacific region.
According to a Reuters analysis, Europe has begun to emerge more prominently on Taiwan’s defense market amid global shifts in the defense sector. Historically, Europe has not been a major supplier of military systems to Taiwan due to concerns over China’s reaction—the last major sales date back decades.
However, this year’s TADTE demonstrated a perceptible shift in attitudes: the German trade office in Taipei participated for the first time, showcasing innovative capabilities in aerospace and security. The French-European manufacturer Airbus also drew attention with a drone boasting an endurance of up to 14 hours.
A highlight of symbolic significance was the meeting between Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te and the Czech delegation—Senator Pavel Fischer and Pavel Diviš, Chairman of the Czech-Taiwanese Business Chamber. The Czech pavilion was also visited by Taiwan’s Minister of Defense Wellington Koo.
This development indicates a broader shift in Europe’s strategy toward Taiwan: Europeans are becoming less hesitant about defense cooperation, particularly in light of the transformed security environment following Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
"The Taiwanese are aware that we have first-hand experience with a new type of conflict in Ukraine. They are highly interested in drawing on this experience when shaping their own defense strategy," added Pavel Diviš.