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Taiwan’s Rising Space Program: Building Up Industry, Supporting National Security

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Taiwan, known for its leadership in semiconductors and information and communications technology (ICT), is now making significant strides in the space industry. While historically modest, Taiwan’s space program has seen a transformation since 2020, driven by President Tsai Ing-wen’s commitment to expanding the country’s space capabilities. Key milestones include the passage of the Space Development Act and the creation of the Taiwan Space Agency (TASA), which has bolstered the resources and visibility of Taiwan’s space ambitions.

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Image of Taiwan and China from Space - furnished by NASA
Image of Taiwan and China from Space - furnished by NASA
© ixpert/Shutterstock.com
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The government’s strategy focuses on two main objectives. First, Taiwan aims to diversify beyond semiconductors, positioning the space sector as a future driver of economic growth. Second, it seeks to enhance national security through space-based assets, particularly low Earth orbit (LEO) communication satellites, to address vulnerabilities in its communications infrastructure.

To achieve these goals, Taiwan is fostering collaboration between TASA, academia, industry and startups, while encouraging private investment in the space ecosystem. Near-term projects include launching the FORMOSAT-8 and FORMOSAT-9 satellites, with longer-term plans for a LEO broadband satellite constellation and autonomous space launch capabilities. Taiwan is also strengthening international partnerships, notably with the United States, Japan and Europe, to support its ambitions of becoming a space power.
 

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Taiwan’s Rising Space Program: Building Up Industry, Supporting National Security

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Marc JULIENNE

Marc JULIENNE

Intitulé du poste

Director, Center for Asian Studies, Ifri

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Center for Asian Studies
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Asia is a nerve center for multiple global economic, political and security challenges. The Center for Asian Studies provides documented expertise and a platform for discussion on Asian issues to accompany decision makers and explain and contextualize developments in the region for the sake of a larger public dialogue.

The Center's research is organized along two major axes: relations between Asia's major powers and the rest of the world; and internal economic and social dynamics of Asian countries. The Center's research focuses primarily on China, Japan, India, Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific, but also covers Southeast Asia, the Korean peninsula and the Pacific Islands. 

The Centre for Asian Studies maintains close institutional links with counterpart research institutes in Europe and Asia, and its researchers regularly carry out fieldwork in the region.

The Center organizes closed-door roundtables, expert-level seminars and a number of public events, including an Annual Conference, that welcome experts from Asia, Europe and the United States. The work of Center’s researchers, as well as that of their partners, is regularly published in the Center’s electronic journal Asie.Visions.

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Image of Taiwan and China from Space - furnished by NASA
© ixpert/Shutterstock.com

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Taiwan’s Rising Space Program: Building Up Industry, Supporting National Security