Taiwan identifies sovereign AI, satellite communications as key technology priorities

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Minister of Digital Affairs Lin Yi-jing (林宜敬) on Monday identified sovereign artificial intelligence and low-Earth orbit satellite communications as two capabilities Taiwan needs to strengthen its technological sovereignty and resilience.

Speaking at the 2026 Technology Sovereignty Summit, Lin said technological sovereignty does not mean developing every technology domestically. Instead, Taiwan must maintain control over capabilities critical to its national autonomy and resilience, per UDN.

Wang Wei-ching (王維菁), chair of the Taiwan Communications Society, said technological sovereignty should not be confused with technological isolation or a rejection of global connectivity. Taiwan should remain open to international cooperation while retaining the ability to make independent decisions and respond to risks, she said.

Wang called for greater transparency, accountability, and fair competition in technology governance. She also warned that local culture should not be sacrificed in pursuit of efficiency.

Lin said sovereign AI has two important implications for Taiwan. AI language models must understand Taiwan's languages, social context, and democratic values rather than rely entirely on foreign data and value systems. Taiwan also needs sufficient domestic computing capacity so that important AI models can operate on infrastructure located in Taiwan and subject to Taiwanese law.

Lin said the Ministry of Digital Affairs is promoting the Taiwan Sovereign AI Training Corps and gradually making government resources available to Taiwanese and international research teams. The initiative is intended to help AI models better understand Taiwan's language, culture, and social context.

Low-Earth orbit satellite communications are another important component of Taiwan's technological resilience, Lin said. Taiwan's extensive 4G and 5G coverage means civilian demand for satellite communications remains limited.

However, alternative communications infrastructure could be crucial during war, gray-zone activity, or disruptions to submarine cables and other infrastructure. Low-Earth orbit satellites could provide backup connectivity and reduce Taiwan's dependence on any single communications system, Lin said.