Officials from Taiwan's National Science Council (NSC) dismissed reports that its ROCSAT-2 (
Twelve high-level NSC officials, including Vice Chairman Tsay Ching-yen (
Later today, NSC officials plan to hold a preliminary meeting at Matra Marconi's facilities in Toulouse to discuss details, including the main structure of the satellite, as well as software and telemetry instruments.
The NSC has dismissed reports that the problems are related to GEC Alsthom's recent failure to win the bid for Taiwan's high-speed rail system.
Sources told the Taipei Times that GEC Alsthom complained to the French government about its unsuccessful bid, saying that it attempted to influence the government's support of Matra Marconi's part in the ROCSAT-2 project.
"I don't know of any pressure from GEC Alsthom on the ROCSAT-2 project, but stories in local media [in France] have mentioned opposition from China," said NSC official Kuo Shih-cheng (
A Matra Marconi official also told that Taipei Times yesterday that the satellite project was going smoothly and had not met with any interference.
"The contract was signed about one month ago and we started to work on the project together," said Remi Roland, a public relations official from Matra Marconi, in France.
"We received authorization [a high-tech export permit] last year from our government to built ROCSAT-2," Roland said, suggesting the license was evidence of support from the French government.
The NSC signed a NT$2.37 billion contract with Matra Marconi last month to build the main part of the satellite, which is being designed to perform real-time remote sensor work on the oceans and landmasses in the vicinity of Taiwan.
To meet a proposed mid-2003 launch date for ROCSAT-2, NSC scientists have been working on several sub-projects, including preparing tender bids for various sub-systems.
The bid for the payload system for the ROCSAT-2, due to be offered on Jan. 25, is to be contested by several major aerospace firms from the US and Russia.
China has reportedly put pressure on countries cooperating with Taiwan on the project, claiming its high-resolution photo capabilities could be used for military purposes.
The satellite is to be Taiwan's second aerospace venture, following the launch of ROCSAT-1 on Jan. 27, 1999 from Cape Canaveral, Florida.
NO HUMAN ERROR: After the incident, the Coast Guard Administration said it would obtain uncrewed aerial vehicles and vessels to boost its detection capacity Authorities would improve border control to prevent unlawful entry into Taiwan’s waters and safeguard national security, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said yesterday after a Chinese man reached the nation’s coast on an inflatable boat, saying he “defected to freedom.” The man was found on a rubber boat when he was about to set foot on Taiwan at the estuary of Houkeng River (後坑溪) near Taiping Borough (太平) in New Taipei City’s Linkou District (林口), authorities said. The Coast Guard Administration’s (CGA) northern branch said it received a report at 6:30am yesterday morning from the New Taipei City Fire Department about a
IN BEIJING’S FAVOR: A China Coast Guard spokesperson said that the Chinese maritime police would continue to carry out law enforcement activities in waters it claims The Philippines withdrew its coast guard vessel from a South China Sea shoal that has recently been at the center of tensions with Beijing. BRP Teresa Magbanua “was compelled to return to port” from Sabina Shoal (Xianbin Shoal, 仙濱暗沙) due to bad weather, depleted supplies and the need to evacuate personnel requiring medical care, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesman Jay Tarriela said yesterday in a post on X. The Philippine vessel “will be in tiptop shape to resume her mission” after it has been resupplied and repaired, Philippine Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, who heads the nation’s maritime council, said
REGIONAL STABILITY: Taipei thanked the Biden administration for authorizing its 16th sale of military goods and services to uphold Taiwan’s defense and safety The US Department of State has approved the sale of US$228 million of military goods and services to Taiwan, the US Department of Defense said on Monday. The state department “made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale” to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the US for “return, repair and reshipment of spare parts and related equipment,” the defense department’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a news release. Taiwan had requested the purchase of items and services which include the “return, repair and reshipment of classified and unclassified spare parts for aircraft and related equipment; US Government
More than 500 people on Saturday marched in New York in support of Taiwan’s entry to the UN, significantly more people than previous years. The march, coinciding with the ongoing 79th session of the UN General Assembly, comes close on the heels of growing international discourse regarding the meaning of UN Resolution 2758. Resolution 2758, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1971, recognizes the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as the “only lawful representative of China.” It resulted in the Republic of China (ROC) losing its seat at the UN to the PRC. Taiwan has since been excluded from