A draft space development act yesterday cleared a preliminary review at the legislature, which Minister of Science and Technology Wu Tsung-tsong (\u5433\u653f\u5fe0) hailed as a \u201cmilestone\u201d for the development of Taiwan\u2019s space industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wu thanked the lawmakers on the legislature\u2019s Education and Culture Committee for reviewing 17 bills proposed by lawmakers, including the one by the Ministry of Science and Technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Space technology has been mostly used in national defense and communications, but with its increasing commercialization, domestic businesses can join more niches in global supply chains, Wu told reporters on the sidelines of the committee meeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Highlighting the opportunities brought by low-Earth-orbit satellite launches, Wu said local businesses can join the manufacturing of satellites and ground station equipment, or develop innovative applications involving 5G and 6G communications technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To boost the development of the local space industry, the ministry would do its utmost to increase funding for the National Space Organization (NSPO), but it needs to deliberate the distribution of the technology budget with the Executive Yuan, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and other agencies, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The NSPO has an annual budget of about NT$2 billion (US$71.59 million).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The bill, comprised of six chapters with 22 articles, confirms the science ministry as the competent authority to oversee local space activities, although some lawmakers had suggested the Executive Yuan or the economics ministry as supervisors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While most of the articles were based on the ministry\u2019s version, there were heated discussions about articles related to a rocket launch site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Finding a launch site became a thorny issue for the ministry after a plan by Taiwan Innovative Space to build a site in Nantian Village (\u5357\u7530) in Taitung County\u2019s Dajen Township (\u9054\u4ec1) was thwarted by local Aborigines and lawmakers representing Aborigines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Independent Legislator Kao Chin Su-mei (\u9ad8\u91d1\u7d20\u6885) has accused the company of lying to local residents about land use before a planned launch of its Hapith I sounding rocket in December 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The ministry would choose another site from which to launch rockets on a long-term basis, as stipulated by the bill, Wu said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While such a site is most likely to be found on the southern or southeastern coast of Taiwan, the ministry would consult local Aborigines, as stipulated by the Indigenous Peoples Basic Law (\u539f\u4f4f\u6c11\u65cf\u57fa\u672c\u6cd5), he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The ministry\u2019s proposal to set up a launch site in Syuhai Village (\u65ed\u6d77) in Pingtung County\u2019s Mudan Township (\u7261\u4e39) would only be for short-term use, as the tract of land is not large enough, Wu added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, the disputes around the Syuhai site are not yet settled, as local residents continue to express their worries about noise, pollution and security risks from rocket launches, as well as compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Lin Yi-hua (\u6797\u5955\u83ef) said the bill should include rules governing the environmental impact assessment procedures for rocket launches, but an Environmental Protection Administration official said that such rules can be added to its existing assessment regulations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Chung Chia-pin (\u937e\u4f73\u6ff1) has urged the Cabinet to use the ministry\u2019s planned science park in Pingtung as a base to promote space industry supply chains.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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