A factory near Taipei, once known for building leisure and fishing boats, has shifted focus under new ownership by drone manufacturer Thunder Tiger. The company now produces the "Sea Shark," a water surface drone designed to attack military vessels.

With rising tensions and frequent Chinese naval activity near Taiwan, the island is investing in smart, asymmetric defense strategies, inspired in part by Ukraine's successful use of sea drones against Russia. The “Sea Shark,” developed in collaboration with Taiwan's top military research institute, is equipped with cameras and anti-jamming communication systems, and can be used for both surveillance and direct attacks.

Taiwan is also working to build a self-reliant defense industry, avoiding Chinese components due to security concerns. Although fully domestic production is not yet possible, Thunder Tiger now sources parts exclusively from Taiwan, the US and Europe. While the factory still produces some civilian boats, its future lies in military drone production, with ambitions to eventually manufacture one sea drone per day.

(This video summary was created by AI. It was edited by a journalist before publication.)