Taiwan should focus more on utilizing its "soft power" arsenal of Mandarin-language pop music and TV soap operas around the region via the use of satellite broadcasting, according to commercial satellite launcher Arianespace.
As Taiwan struggles to keep its diplomatic partners around the globe in the face of pressure from China, Richard Bowles, Arianespace's representative director for ASEAN countries, recommended that the government instead focus on bolstering its cultural influence.
"Forget China and concentrate on the Chinese people in the region and avoid any political problems," Bowles said.
He was in Taipei yesterday delivering a briefing on his company's operations.
"Taiwan could project through satellite communications their soft power, such as pop stars. This could also enable them to establish commercial ties in the region as well," he said.
Overseas Chinese control the bulk of the financial wealth in countries such as the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore, he said. There are also large numbers of Chinese in Australia and South Korea, which constitute a large and influential market, Bowles said.
"Given the ambitions of Taiwan and the fact it likes to make lots of friends ... I wouldn't be surprised if the government would be interested in projecting its influence, given that the Chinese community in most of these countries is very influential," he said.
Egypt launched its Nilesat 101 satellite in 1998 for the purpose of influencing Arab speakers in the region, Bowles said.
The Egyptian Satellite Co, which built and operates the satellite, has since launched Nilesat 102 in August 2000 and provides a range of services, including digital TV and radio broadcasting, multimedia services, data broadcasting services and news-gathering.
Arianespace was contracted to provide launch services for both of these satellites.
Since developing and launching a communications satellite can cost up to US$200 million, the government or a media company would likely prefer to begin regional broadcasts on the back of satellites already in orbit.
"They could at least start by leasing some transponders on an existing satellite before buying their own. And to start with their own system you really need to have a strong business plan," said Jacques Roelandts, Arianespace's Tokyo representative.
Taiwan launched a commercial telecommunications satellite, the ST-1, in 1998. The project was a joint venture between Chunghwa Telecom Co (
Controlling 60 percent of the global commercial space launch market, Arianespace launches around 10 commercial satellites into orbit every year, receiving 248 launch orders since 1981.
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