&w=3840&q=100)
Taiwan wants to buy India's D4 anti-drone system? Taiwanese official calls reports ‘unconfirmed'
In a statement to Firstpost, Taipei Economic and Cultural Center has clarified that the island nation has not released any official statement confirming its interest in India's D4 anti-drone system read more
Last week, several media outlets reported that Taiwan has shown interest in purchasing India's state-of-the-art D4 anti-drone system, developed by the Defence Research and Developed Organisation (DRDO) and manufactured by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL). The reports suggested that Taiwan's interest in the D4 system grew following its success in the Operation Sindoor where it jammed and neutralised Pakistani drones, including Turkish-supplied Bayraktar TB2 drones.
Clarification from Taiwan
However, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Center (TECC) in India has now clarified that the country's Ministry of National Defense has not released any official statement corroborating the same. The TECC in a statement to Firstpost stated that the Taiwanese government has not released any statement confirming any such interest.
'While these news reports have circulated, there has been no official corroboration from Taipei. Officials in Taiwan have not publicly commented on any potential defense acquisitions from India, including the D4 anti-drone system,' said Col. Huang Ming Chieh of TECC.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
The statement also added that details regarding D4 anti-drone system's operational deployment and specific successes were not confirmed by the government of India and were only reported by media outlets.
'Details regarding its operational deployment and specific successes, including those attributed to 'Operation Sindoor,' are based on media reporting and have not been officially detailed by the Indian government,' it added.
While the TECC didn't reject the reports in Indian media, it also refused to confirm them.
'Therefore, based on the current information available from official Taiwanese channels, the reports of an impending purchase of the Indian D4 anti-drone system by Taiwan remain unconfirmed. The TECC's statement underscores the lack of any official communication or planning regarding such a defense procurement,' said Huang in the statement.
Significance of India-Taiwan defence ties
A successful agreement with Taiwan could foster enhanced defence collaboration, possibly involving joint development of cutting-edge counter-drone systems.
Moreover, amid China's assertive actions in the Indo-Pacific, India's strategic engagement with Taiwan could act as a vital counterbalance, transforming the region's security landscape.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
29 minutes ago
- Time of India
RCB to be sold after historic IPL 2025 win? Owner Diageo breaks silence
Image credit: BCCI/IPL Diageo India, the Indian branch of UK-based Diageo Plc and owner of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) IPL franchise, has firmly rejected rumors of selling the team. In a letter addressed to the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and its Surveillance Department on Tuesday, June 10, a Diageo India representative stated that the media reports suggesting a potential sale are purely speculative. "The company would like to clarify that the aforesaid media reports are speculative in nature and it is not pursuing any such discussion," Mital Sanghvi, the company secretary, informed the regulating body of the Indian Stock Market. "This is for your information and records." Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! According to a Cricbuzz report, Diageo's statement was in response to a query from the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), where the company is publicly listed. Since speculation about a possible sale of the RCB franchise began circulating, shares of United Spirits — the Diageo-owned company that holds RCB — have seen a notable uptick. On Tuesday, Bloomberg reported that Diageo is considering selling the RCB franchise. The report surfaced shortly after RCB's maiden IPL title win on June 3 — a milestone achieved after 17 years — followed tragically by an incident in Bengaluru on June 4, where celebrations turned fatal, leaving 11 dead and many injured. Virat Kohli's love for 'dhaba' food, priority for family & more | RCB bus driver shares stories Though Diageo officially dismissed the sale reports as "speculative," the ambiguity of their statement has sparked deeper speculation. A seasoned voice in India's sports business ecosystem suggested that 'being a public company, there will be a lot of pressure on reputational damage,' hinting that Diageo could be weighing its options more seriously than publicly admitted. There are also murmurs about Diageo valuing the RCB franchise at around USD 2 billion. While some industry insiders view that figure as inflated — especially when compared to Torrent's acquisition of Gujarat Titans at approximately INR 7500 crore (around USD 1 billion) — others disagree. Lalit Modi , the architect of the IPL, told Cricbuzz that a USD 2 billion valuation for RCB is quite realistic. 'A particularly special feeling': Andy Flower hails Virat Kohli, RCB after historic title win "I will not be surprised if it is sold for a higher price," he remarked, adding that comparing the RCB valuation to that of the newer Gujarat franchise isn't an apples-to-apples comparison. "I will not be surprised if it is sold for a higher price," he said , stating that the valuation of GT cannot be compared here since it was a one-year-old deal. The sale report remains speculative, as clarified by the Diageo official in the response to the BSE. "No decision is final and they may decide against selling the team, the people said, asking not to be named as the details are private," the Bloomberg report says.
The Hindu
30 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Haryana police yet to respond to notice over professor's arrest: NHRC
The Haryana police have failed to respond to a notice issued by the National Human Rights Commission over the recent arrest of Ashoka University professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad for his remarks on Operation Sindoor in social media posts, the commission said on Tuesday (June 10, 2025). Mr. Mahmudabad, an associate professor of political science, was arrested by the Haryana police over his social media posts on May 18, leading to widespread discussions on how public discourse on military activity like Operation Sindoor should be conducted. In response to a request under the Right to Information Act, 2005 by The Hindu, the NHRC said the Haryana police had not responded to its notice within the one-week deadline, which expired on May 27. The NHRC had taken cognisance of a news report from May 20 and issued notice to the Director General of Police of Haryana over Mr. Mahmudabad's arrest, saying in the notice that the report had disclosed a 'prima facie' violation of the professor's human rights and liberty. The commission called for a detailed report on the case from the DGP within seven days. The NHRC said in its reply to the RTI request that the commission had on Monday sent a reminder to the Haryana police and that the case continued to be under consideration. A day after the NHRC issued notice to the Haryana police, however, Mr. Mahmudabad was granted bail under specific conditions by the Supreme Court and released from custody. In the reminder sent to the Haryana police on June 9, the NHRC said, 'The requisite report has not been received so far. It is requested that the report called for be sent to the commission by 16/06/2025.'
Time of India
32 minutes ago
- Time of India
Tier-III cities drive 62% of new insurance premiums: Report
HighlightsA recent report from Probus, an InsurTech and insurance broking firm, reveals that Tier-III cities and smaller towns are now responsible for approximately 62 per cent of new insurance premiums in India for the current fiscal year. The motor insurance segment experienced significant growth of 25.6 per cent in fiscal year 2024-25, driven by increased awareness, digital access, and an expanded Point-of-Sale Person network. Fresh life insurance policies saw a growth exceeding 60 percent in fiscal year 2024-25 compared to the previous year, while Small and Medium Enterprise insurance emerged as the fastest-growing segment with 112 percent increase. A new report from Probus, an InsurTech and insurance broking firm, indicates that Tier-III cities and smaller towns are now significant contributors to India's new insurance business. The report states that these regions account for approximately 62 per cent of total new insurance premiums in the current fiscal year. This trend suggests a shift in how new insurance business is generated in India. Smaller towns, aided by digital payment infrastructure like UPI and increased internet access, are showing higher rates of digital adoption. Probus highlights that this is a consistent pattern, with the contribution from these regions rising from 58 per cent to 62 per cent over the past three fiscal years. For the fiscal year 2024-25, the motor insurance segment saw notable growth at 25.6 per cent. This was attributed to increased awareness, digital access, and an expanded Point-of-Sale Person (PoSP) network. The report also observes that local distribution methods, including app-based onboarding and regional language interfaces, have facilitated wider access to insurance products. What may have been a compliance-driven purchase is increasingly being viewed as a financial planning tool in these areas. Across insurance verticals, fresh life insurance policies showed growth exceeding 60 per cent in FY 2024-25 compared to FY 2023-24. Non-life insurance, encompassing motor, health, and SME segments, also experienced growth. SME insurance emerged as the fastest-growing segment in FY 2024-25, with a 112 per cent increase. Rakesh Goyal, director, Probus, commented on the findings, noting the resilience of the Indian economy and the role of Tier-II and Tier-III cities in this. He stated that Probus's approach aligns with the goal of 'Insuring India by 2047,' by providing digital tools and strengthening PoSP models to offer insurance solutions to consumers in these emerging markets.
