Taipei: Taiwan’s information and electronic warfare units are being advised to develop capabilities to access the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) BeiDou Navigation Satellite System to counter potential drone threats. This strategy was highlighted by retired Air Force Lieutenant General Andy Hu during a recent seminar focused on addressing threats from the PLA and exploring Taiwan’s potential responses.

According to Focus Taiwan, electronic warfare, which involves targeting and manipulating the electromagnetic spectrum to control the flow of information, is likely to play a crucial role in drone warfare. Lieutenant General Andy Hu, who has previously served as Taiwan’s deputy chief of general staff for intelligence, emphasized the importance of information and electronic warfare over deploying missiles against enemy drones. He advocated for Taiwan to prioritize developing the ability to disrupt and deceive enemy drones.

At the seminar hosted by the Taiwan Thinktank, Army Logistics Command Information Center Director Wang Ching-an noted that the PLA has reportedly developed the capability to disrupt the Starlink satellite constellation. This development was allegedly motivated by an incident in 2022 when China failed to track a flight carrying then U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi during her visit to Taiwan.

Hu stressed the importance of understanding China’s BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS), which guides PLA drones. He suggested that gaining access to the BDS could lead to PLA drones mistakenly identifying Taiwanese drones as their own. Additionally, Taiwanese drones could utilize the BDS for navigation if Taiwan’s satellite system were jammed.

Kao Chih-jung, a researcher at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, highlighted four U.S. counter-drone methods that Taiwan could consider if faced with PLA drone swarms. These methods include high-power microwave systems, counter-drone jammers, laser-guided rockets, and deploying drone swarms to counter micro-drones. Kao pointed out the potential consequences of these methods, such as fire hazards and damage to residential areas.

Kao also discussed potential PLA military campaigns against Taiwan, which would require extensive preparation. He noted that the PLA Rocket Force possesses a significant number of ballistic and medium-range missiles aimed at Taiwan and other countries in the Indo-Pacific region. In the event of an attack, key targets would likely include Taiwan’s air bases, air defense systems, and missile sites. Kao emphasized the need for Taiwan to bolster its air defense arsenal to withstand potential saturation attacks by PLA missiles.