China has consistently claimed this self-governing island as its territory and has increased military activities in recent years, posing a threat to Taiwan.

According to Wu, if undersea telecom cables are damaged during a crisis, Taiwan could be completely cut off from the rest of the world. To address this, he has stated the need for approximately 150 satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO) to provide alternative means of communication.

He said,

“We must move forward by relying on our own technology. We are working towards this without wasting time, as it has become a strategic necessity.”

The first setback in this direction was felt in February 2023, when two submarine cables connecting Taiwan’s Matsu Islands, located near China, were damaged. Internet and phone services were disrupted for several weeks following this incident.

Taking this experience into account, Taiwan has launched its LEO satellite program, which aims to launch six satellites to an altitude of 600 kilometers by 2027, a year that US intelligence agencies have identified as risky for potential Chinese action against Taiwan.

Wu explained that the government is developing domestic technology but is also leveraging commercial partnerships. He also clarified that the services of the French satellite company Eutelsat have been useful in emergencies, such as during the devastating earthquake in 2024, but that it alone will not suffice.

Taiwan is currently in talks with companies such as Astranis of the US, SES of Luxembourg, Amazon’s Kuiper Project, and Canada’s Telesat to develop a reliable and resilient communications network.

Experts believe that in the coming years, this satellite system could play a vital role not only in defense but also for civilian emergency services.

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