Taiwan's Legislative Yuan Transportation Committee approved amendments to Article 36 of the Telecommunications Management Act in its first reading on July 13, significantly relaxing restrictions on foreign ownership and nationality requirements for satellite operators. The move is widely viewed as paving the way for SpaceX's Starlink to enter the Taiwanese market.
Taiwan's drone industry has grown rapidly in recent years, with output surging from about NT$5 billion (US$154.87 million) in 2024 to NT$12.9 billion in 2025, while export value jumped from NT$140 million to NT$2.9 billion. Still, compared with semiconductors and electronics assembly, the drone sector remains small, making it critical for the industry to expand technology cooperation and secure government subsidies.
An organization under China's State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense (SASTIND) released the membership list of the National Commercial Space Alliance's Commercial Space Entrepreneurship Consortium on July 1, offering a rare look at 271 officially recognized space-related organizations. Covering everything from launch services and satellite development to ground infrastructure and financial services, the list signals Beijing's increasingly institutionalized approach to identifying and supporting established commercial space companies.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has completed the first flight test of its reusable small experimental rocket RV-X, marking an early step in Japan's effort to develop lower-cost launch technology for future satellite missions.
The rise in global defense budgets has led to new opportunities for mainstream automakers as they seek to diversify their operations, yet the move into military and defense-related manufacturing presents another set of hurdles to overcome. These include lengthy certification cycles, highly fragmented specifications, and uncertainties surrounding policy continuity.
