The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) has stated that the United States and Taiwan are in discussions regarding potential spaceport cooperation. Taiwanese legislator Chen Guan-ting has expressed that amid the global space race, Taiwan is confident and capable of becoming an open, transparent, and responsible participant in space activities.
According to a post on Facebook by the AIT on the 21st, space cooperation between the U.S. and Taiwan is continuously expanding possibilities from the past, present, to the future, including potential spaceport cooperation that awaits further evaluation and discussion in the future. It is anticipated that travel time between Taipei and Houston could be reduced to 2.5 hours through suborbital flights.
The AIT mentioned that Houston’s Ellington Airport already holds a legal spaceport license. If collaboration ensues, initial activities may focus on unmanned cargo missions, with manned flights being considered as technology advances. This collaboration underscores Taiwan’s potential in space innovation and signifies the deep technological partnership between the U.S. and Taiwan.
The Houston Tourism Bureau introduces the spaceport project as a new transportation model, where large aircraft carry space vehicles to ascend into open airspace, release them, and have the space vehicles ignite engines to vertically pass through the atmosphere, adjust posture, re-enter the Earth in a free-fall manner, and finally land precisely at the designated airport.
Member of Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee, Chen Guan-ting, stated in a media group that Taiwan’s development of low-earth orbit satellites is not merely a technological endeavor but a strategic investment crucial for national security and international responsibilities. Amid the global space race, Taiwan is confident and capable of being an open, transparent, and responsible participant in space activities.
Chen Guan-ting mentioned, “Our country is currently promoting two types of systems – communication satellites and optical remote sensing satellites – with clear division of responsibilities. Regarding communication, Taiwan’s first B5G low-earth communication satellite is expected to launch in 2027. Before that, our country will cooperate with international systems like OneWeb to maintain communication stability during disaster prevention and military preparedness stages.”
“During wartime, not only missiles and unmanned drones are crucial, but uninterrupted communication, continuous intelligence, and real-time disaster monitoring are the foundations of national defense,” Chen Guan-ting expressed. Low-earth communication satellites can maintain connectivity between the central government and frontline units in cases where land fiber optics are damaged, and base stations are destroyed. Combined with decentralized ground receiving stations, they can effectively address interference and blockade challenges.
Chen Guan-ting further mentioned that remote sensing systems also play a crucial role. The Formosat-8 is scheduled to launch this year, and from now until 2031, it will form a cluster of eight satellites. Together with the subsequent Formosat-9, it is expected to carry out all-weather, all-terrain optical and radar remote sensing missions, assisting in monitoring enemy situations, national disaster damages, changes in critical infrastructure, among other information.
He stated, “We cannot rely solely on allied satellite intelligence; Taiwan also needs the capability to observe its own battlefield, which is the basic threshold of national defense initiative.”
Aside from military preparedness functions, Chen Guan-ting also emphasized the international significance of space strategy. He believes that Taiwan can participate in international frameworks such as the Artemis Accords through the framework of the Taiwan Relations Act, leveraging advantages like democratic governance, data transparency, and commercial innovation. He cited the “spaceport cooperation concept” revealed by the AIT as evidence of the shared forward-looking vision in Taiwan-U.S. cooperation.
He stressed, “The spaceport is not just a technological dream but could also become a strategic hub integrating disaster prevention, national defense, technology, and economy. If Taiwan can become a key station in Indo-Pacific space transportation, it will not only enhance technological capabilities but also strengthen connectivity and security networks in the Indo-Pacific region.”
Chen Guan-ting further stated that at the international law level, space does not have exclusive sovereign rights, and existing national sovereignty and territorial divisions on Earth do not naturally extend to space orbits and outer space resources. Therefore, as a democratic entity, Taiwan has more room to advocate for participation in the formulation and practice of the international space order.
Lastly, Chen Guan-ting expressed that the ultimate goal of developing low-earth orbit satellites and exploring spaceport cooperation is to establish Taiwan’s national resilience in both times of war and peace, and strive for its rightful participation and position in the global space order.