DSET Policy Analyst from the National Security Program, Cathy Fang, recently published an op-ed with Global Taiwan Institute on Japan-Taiwan relations, emphasizing a need for increased Japan-Taiwan cooperation in maritime and space domains.
Fang writes that while Japan and Taiwan both align on the commitment to uphold a free and open Indo-Pacific, Japan’s reluctance to fully engage with Taiwan out of fear of provoking Beijing is an obstacle.
“This delicate balancing act often takes precedence over the urgent need for strategic dialogue and cooperation with Taipei on critical security issues,” she highlights.
Despite Japan’s reluctance to establish more concrete partnerships with Taiwan due to pressure from China, Fang points out that its greatest security challenge is, ironically, China. In both maritime and space domains, China presents several threats that Japan has deemed serious. Fang points to similar concerns between Japan and Taiwan about China’s maritime forces occupying water near territory and undermining both nation’s sovereignty. Additionally, experts have increasingly raised concerns about communication systems such as undersea cables and low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites being disrupted or threatened. As a result, both Japan and Taiwan face similar challenges in regards to protecting its own interests and national security.
In space technology, Taiwan has demonstrated serious commitment towards improving its national security and digital resilience strategy. Taiwan Space Agency (TASA) and Ministry of Digital Affairs (MODA) are the main government agencies leading the effort, but are also supported by industry groups like the Taiwan LEO Satellite Industry Alliance (TLEOSIA). Taiwan’s goals include developing domestically produced LEO communication satellites to reduce reliance on foreign systems, building a domestic launch site so that Taiwan can deploy its satellites without depending on other countries, and training local talent in space technology to maintain a sustainable industry.
Supported by its semiconductor industry and information and communications technology (ICT) strengths, Taiwan’s space technology ambitions include building LEO satellite buses. Leveraging its advanced industries, Taiwan aims to build more technologically advanced satellites to improve the LEO satellite market. Fang ties in Japan’s space agency (JAXA), noting that it is more experienced and better funded than TASA and advocates for a Taiwan-Japan collaboration to combine JAXA’s experience with TASA’s hardware to achieve this goal together.
Fang urges Taiwan and Japan to strengthen cooperation in maritime and LEO satellite domains through a dynamic framework adaptable for both peace and crisis scenarios. Doing so will present an opportunity to deter regional threats while supporting economic growth and technological innovation. Fang acknowledges that while both governments have signed memorandum of understanding on coast guard and satellite collaboration, implementation remains limited. It is recommended that the countries accelerate joint training and real-time information sharing initiatives to build mutual resilience.
Japan’s latest National Security Strategy warns of the most severe and complex security environment since World War II, calling for proactive measures rather than reactive crisis management. Therefore deepening peace-time cooperation between Japan and Taiwan is crucial now in order to ensure strategic readiness, economic resilience, and regional stability.