The Taipei Aerospace & Defense Technology Exhibition (TADTE) 2025 crystallized around four dominant strategic themes that collectively illustrate Taiwan’s comprehensive approach to defense modernization amid escalating regional tensions. ΔIndigenous Defense and Self-RelianceThe most prominent theme was Taiwan’s accelerated pursuit of defense self-sufficiency, showcased through historic indigenous achievements. Unmanned Systems and Asymmetric WarfareUnmanned platforms emerged as the centerpiece of the exhibition, representing Taiwan’s strategic pivot toward asymmetric warfare capabilities. The theme represents a strategic advantage, enabling rapid development of sophisticated defense systems while utilizing Taiwan’s established industrial strengths. U.S. collaboration emphasized co-development and co-production agreements, including Anduril Industries’ Barracuda-500 underwater missile partnership with NCSIST and AeroVironment’s collaboration on autonomous systems.