WUSHI, Taiwan: Inspired by how Ukraine has used sea drones effectively against Russia in the Black Sea, Taiwan is learning how to use them as a cheap but powerful way to stop a possible invasion by China.

Off the coast of Wushi, a small fishing port on Taiwan's Pacific side, a local company is testing sea drones—small, uncrewed boats packed with explosives. These drones may soon become an essential part of Taiwan's defense system.

Sea drones can be controlled remotely and used to hit ships or even some air targets. The U.S. has encouraged Taiwan to focus on "asymmetric warfare," which uses small, mobile, and low-cost weapons—like sea drones—to balance out China's military advantage.

Chen Kuan-ting, a Taiwanese lawmaker from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, said that drones have played a significant role in Ukraine and can help Taiwan, too. He pointed out that Taiwan's goal is defense, not attack, and drones fit nicely into that strategy.

The project is called "Swift and Sudden" and is being developed by Taiwan's defense research group, the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology. The project currently has a modest budget of about 800 million dollars in New Taiwan (about $27 million). Defense Minister Wellington Koo said more funding would come later this year through a special military spending plan.

Thunder Tiger, one of the companies building the sea drones, is testing its SeaShark 800 model near Wushi. This drone can carry 1,200 kg of explosives and travel up to 500 kilometers. Company chairman William Chen said these drones could catch China by surprise and create uncertainty in the Taiwan Strait. "No one will know where the danger may come from," he said.

Next week, Thunder Tiger will join 11 other local and international companies in a defense ministry showcase of unmanned surface vehicles. Participants include Taiwan's Lungteh Shipbuilding and U.S. military contractor Huntington Ingalls Industries.

Rupert Hammond-Chambers of the U.S.-Taiwan Business Council said both countries are focusing on drone warfare, especially after seeing how Ukraine uses them.

China claims Taiwan as its territory and has increased military pressure in recent years. Taiwan rejects these claims and has turned to new defense tools like drones. Since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Taiwan has studied how drones helped Ukraine defend itself and is now working with private companies to build its own.

Experts say Taiwan can build high-quality sea drones, but the government and military must now figure out how to use them effectively in real combat situations.