China: Amid continued tensions with China, Taiwan is moving forward with an ambitious venture: the development of its own satellite network, aimed at protecting the island’s connectivity during emergencies, CNN reports. In an exclusive interview with CNN, Taiwan Space Agency (TASA) Director General Wu Jong-shin revealed that Taiwan is currently in the experimental phase of building indigenous communications satellites. Once operational, the system promises to emulate the functionality of Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite constellation, albeit on a smaller scale, according to Wu, who has been at the helm of Taiwan’s space initiative since 2021. Starlink, managed by Musk’s SpaceX, has gained international popularity with attention being given to its ability to provide internet access to remote areas around the world.
Taiwan’s effort partly stems from its inability to access Starlink due to legal barriers; SpaceX’s insistence on majority ownership in the proposed joint venture clashed with Taiwan’s regulations, prompting Taiwan to pursue its own technological solutions. “The communications satellite is very important for our communications flexibility during critical periods,” Wu said, calling it his agency’s most sensitive project. “This is very important to us, so we take it very seriously.” With Beijing’s continued claims on Taiwan and threats of military action, the need for an autonomous communications infrastructure is paramount.
Currently, Taiwan relies on 15 submarine internet cables for connectivity, a system that is vulnerable to disruptions, as demonstrated by an incident last year when cable damage left the outer islands cut off from the internet for weeks . Experts have warned that deliberate sabotage by Beijing could spread widespread panic and disrupt routine communications, CNN reports. In the interim, Taiwan plans to cooperate with international satellite providers such as OneWeb to ensure backup connectivity during emergencies.
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