Opportunities exist for mutually beneficial cooperation on space between the US and Taiwan, given the complementary nature of each side's strengths, the director-general of Taiwan's space agency said in Washington yesterday.
Speaking at a virtual discussion hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Taiwan Space Agency (TASA) Director-General Wu Jong-shinn (吳宗信) said that the US has a leading edge in space technology, while Taiwan has robust manufacturing capabilities.
US companies could leverage Taiwan's strengths to accelerate and industrialize the space sector and related infrastructure, with both sides able to quickly finalize a cooperation framework, Wu said.
Photo: CNA
Taiwan's globally recognized strengths in electronics, semiconductors and precision manufacturing are already supporting several space projects, including a planned lunar data center and equipment for NASA's Perseverance Mars mission, he said.
Wu said his visit to Washington was aimed at enhancing ties with US industry, positioning Taiwan as a reliable player in the global space supply chain and exploring new opportunities for Taiwan-US commercial and technological cooperation.
Improved space capabilities are crucial for deterrence and resilience, he said, adding that if undersea cables were cut in an emergency, Taiwan's communications would need to rely on space systems.
That would require it to quickly be able to leverage international resources — especially US commercial space capabilities, Wu said.
"It is vital for national security," he said.
The government has increased investment and public awareness of the sector's importance, Wu said, adding that the space agency would continue advancing economic and security objectives.
He also highlighted the economic potential of Taiwan's space industry, saying that it has inspired the younger generation and would play an important role in economic growth, much like the semiconductor sector.
A bill that last month made it through the US House of Representatives Committee on Science, Space and Technology by a 37-0 vote, known as the Taiwan and American Space Assistance Act, could advance the type of cooperation Wu described.
If passed, the bill would facilitate partnerships between NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and TASA, including in areas such as satellite, space exploration, and atmospheric and weather programs.
The virtual discussion, titled "Taiwan's Space Ambitions and the Future of US-Taiwan Cooperation," explored Taiwan's evolving space priorities, opportunities for Taiwan-US collaboration, and the broader implications for security, resilience and innovation in the Indo-Pacific.
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