China satellite launch causes pre-election political storm in Taiwan
Send a link to a friend
[January 10, 2024]
By Yimou Lee and Sarah Wu
TAIPEI (Reuters) -The launch of a Chinese satellite that flew over
Taiwan, prompting an erroneous air raid alert, sparked a political storm
on the island on Wednesday about China's motives only days out from
presidential elections.
Taiwan's presidential office said it did not consider the launch of a
Chinese satellite whose rocket flew over southern Taiwan an attempt at
interference ahead of the poll, but the main opposition party questioned
why the alert was issued.
On Tuesday, the government issued a mistaken air raid alert after the
Chinese rocket carrying a science satellite flew over southern Taiwan at
an altitude of more than 500 km (310 miles). The defense ministry later
apologized for the wrong translation in English which used the word
"missile".
Taiwan's presidential office, responding to questions on whether it
considered the satellite launch election interference, said it did not
think there was a political motive.
While the rocket launch sparked an erroneous air raid alarm, Taiwan,
which China views as its territory over the strong objections of the
government in Taipei, has repeatedly accused Beijing of trying to
interfere in the vote, whether via military, political, economic or
other means. China has labeled those allegations "dirty tricks".
The ruling party's presidential candidate Lai Ching-te supported the
Taiwan defense ministry's publication of a chart showing the flight path
of the satellite crossing over southern Taiwan.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2019/Sep/05/images/ads/current/stclara_lda_SPONSOR_090519.png)
"This information was based on the people's right to know, and to not
let the public misunderstand. At the same time, if any wreckage is
discovered then it could be handed over to the relevant authorities.
This is something that should be done," he said during campaigning on
Wednesday.
China's Taiwan Affairs Office said in a written response to Reuters on
Wednesday that the satellite launch was a regular annual arrangement and
had "nothing to do with the Taiwan election."
China made two satellite launches on consecutive days in early December
from a launch site in Inner Mongolia. Neither of those had flown over
Taiwan or triggered an alert.
Jonathan McDowell, an astrophysicist at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center
for Astrophysics who tracks space launches, told Reuters the first stage
of the rocket landed well inside China, and the second stage flew over
Taiwan at a height comparable to that of the International Space
Station.
"It was far up in space and indeed entered orbit well before crossing
the coast of mainland China. So I think this is an overreaction by
Taiwan. Satellites fly over Taiwan every day," he said.
OPPOSITION ANGER
Taiwan's foreign minister was speaking to foreign reporters when the
shrill alert sounded on phones in the room using the words "satellite
launch by China" in Chinese and "missile" in English.
He had described the launch as part of a pattern of Chinese harassment,
like the recent cases of Chinese balloons spotted over the island.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2024/Jan/10/images/ads/current/humanesociety_sda022411.png)
[to top of second column]
|
![](../images/011024PIX/news_d85.jpg)
A Long March-2C carrier rocket carrying a satellite called Einstein
Probe takes off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan
province, China January 9, 2024. cnsphoto via REUTERS
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2024/Jan/10/images/ads/current/debbiesfloral_lda_122623.png)
Taiwan's largest opposition party the Kuomintang (KMT), slammed the
government, saying the alert issued over the satellite launch
"should not become an election tool".
KMT Chairman Eric Chu told reporters on Wednesday that people are
most concerned about whether the alert was mistakenly sent or if
those sending it had a particular goal in mind.
"This is like how the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has
recently described everything as Chinese election interference. This
is another new move of so-called Chinese election interference," he
said.
Vincent Chao, spokesperson for Vice President Lai Ching-te, the
ruling DPP's presidential candidate, defended the alert as crucial
for keeping citizens informed and reassured.
"A democratic and free society should have an open and transparent
defence ministry," Chao said during a press conference on Wednesday.
"Our national issues, especially national security, should not
become a political tool."
Taiwan's defense ministry said in a statement that its issuing of a
warning was based on national security considerations and there was
"absolutely no political interference" involved.
It added, however, that while it adheres to administrative
neutrality, the English alert messaging system would be
comprehensively reviewed and revised by the relevant units.
A Taiwan security source familiar with the matter, speaking on
condition of anonymity given the sensitivity of the subject, said
China regularly launches satellites close to but not over Taiwan, so
alerts are not needed given falling debris is not a concern.
"The path was different from what was originally expected, and its
actual route was over us. The fear was something falling off, so the
alert was issued," the source said.
Taiwan's defense ministry earlier said rocket debris had fallen only
on China, and that the rocket had taken an "abnormal" flight path.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2024/Jan/10/images/ads/current/ldn_booksda_CHASSKAREN_010924.png)
Former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je of the small Taiwan People's Party (TPP),
who is also standing for the presidency, wrote on his Facebook page
that the biggest fear in cross-strait relations is a conflict could
be sparked accidentally.
"Today's misunderstanding confirms that the two sides lack the most
basic dialogue mechanism, which may lead to inaccurate judgments at
important moments and the eruption of crisis," Ko wrote.
Both the TPP and KMT have pledged to re-start dialogue with China if
they win the presidency.
(Reporting by Yimou Lee, Sarah Wu and James Pomfret; Additional
reporting by Kevin Krolicki; Writing by Ben Blanchard; Editing by
Leslie Adler, Sonali Paul and Michael Perry)
[© 2023 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]This material
may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content. |