Recently, there have been rumors circulating online regarding SpaceX’s Taiwan factory supply chain being asked to relocate. The Ministry of Economic Affairs of the Republic of China clarified today that there is no plan for any factories in the SpaceX Taiwan supply chain to move out.
According to a press release from the Ministry of Economic Affairs of the Republic of China, they immediately contacted the relevant Taiwan factories, and the operators stated that adjusting production schedules to meet custom demands is a common practice to serve global supply chain clients. Before and after the recent US election, there has been no request from SpaceX to relocate factories from Taiwan. Therefore, speculation and rumors from external sources are unnecessary, and it is important to verify the accuracy of information sources.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs emphasized that the electronics and information communication technology industry in Taiwan has long been a crucial part of the global supply chain, particularly in areas such as semiconductors and electronic components.
Regarding Taiwan’s electronics components industry, the Ministry of Economic Affairs pointed out that there are 46 electronic components manufacturers in Taiwan, including material components, PCBs, antenna components, cables, power supplies, and more. These companies not only supply services to satellite communications provider SpaceX but also various international satellite operators, terrestrial telecommunication operators, and equipment manufacturers, ensuring a diverse global presence in the development of integrated services combining high, medium, and low Earth orbit satellites.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs in Taiwan mentioned that aside from continuous R&D and manufacturing in the electronics components industry in Taiwan, since 2021, they have supported 30 system and component businesses through thematic research and development guidance to successfully develop satellite ground equipment products for household, automotive, maritime, aviation purposes. These initiatives aim to collaborate with various types of satellite communication service providers and equipment manufacturers worldwide to establish supply chain partnerships.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs noted that in recent years, Taiwan’s industries have rapidly adjusted to the global supply chain layout dispersed in multiple countries and regions due to the technological rivalry between the US and China, geopolitical factors, and the trend of decoupling supply chains from China. Taiwan has demonstrated good flexibility in capacity adjustments.
Overall, Taiwan has shown self-reliant research and development capabilities in satellite ground receiving equipment and competitive manufacturing capabilities. There is no evidence to support claims of production relocating elsewhere. It is anticipated that short-term political factors will not affect the cooperative relationships between international satellite operators and Taiwanese manufacturers in the supply chain.