NSC denies pressure on ROCSAT-2 development

Officials from Taiwan's National Science Council (NSC) dismissed reports that its ROCSAT-2 (中華衛星二號) project is facing new political problems in France. It said the project is proceeding smoothly and that officials are currently in Europe to inspect progress.

Twelve high-level NSC officials, including Vice Chairman Tsay Ching-yen (蔡清彥) and director of the National Space Program Office (NSPO) Wang Hung-chih (王鴻智), arrived in France early this week.

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 (郭石城).

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.