comment: >
  
  You do not understand how orbits work or Kessler syndrome generally
  Starlink operates satellites at a level where if they fail, they'd fall out of the sky in a few years
  Any large constellation will run satellites in a similar orbit
context: Not a bad idea.  Having means of communications are important to better defend itself against invader. >
  
  Not a bad idea for defense. A bad idea for astronomy and low orbit garbage. If every country/company starts doing this it'll get congested real quick. >
  
  It is already pretty congested tbh. >
  
  This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 82%. (I'm a bot)
  
  
  Taiwan is working on its own satellite-based internet system, similar to Elon Musk's Starlink, amid fears of an invasion from China, the Financial Times reported.
  Taiwan's digital minister, Audrey Tang, told the FT: "We look at the Russian invasion of Ukraine and how Starlink has been used very successfully."
  Under the One-China policy, China regards the island as part of its own territory, even though Taiwan has been self-ruling for decades.
  
  
  Extended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Taiwan^#1 China^#2 Starlink^#3 internet^#4 amid^#5 >
  
  Musk is under the CCP thumb also so can't trust starlink would be available when China makes its move. >
  
  In the event of war with China I think Musk would fall in line. His assets in China would likely be nationalized and he would have to choose the US or China. I think it’s pretty clear that while he needs China to make money, he doesn’t want to live there. >
  
  All Musk has to do is ensure starlink isn't useful about 3 weeks. Once China has blockaded the island they can choke it out. Musk doesn't have to side to lose his factories he just has to make sure its not useful during the critical first few days while Taiwan is on its own mostly and getting surrounded. >
  
  Also, the US military is a customer of Starlink. I’m sure they would strong arm SpaceX, and if not they would just provide access through the military contract. >
  
  They didnt stop starlink from temporarily fucking Ukraine during the Kherson assault. >
  
  And the US government threatened to re-evaluate SpaceX and Starlight contracts if Starlink didnt get its act together 
  Magically, the issues went away >
  
  Poland agreed to pay the bills. Magically the issues went away. There's no reason to believe anything ontoward happened. We'll hear the truth in the future.
  The Kherson assault was done under limited outside comms. I believe when you tell someone to switch off a service in currently occupied territory, you have to tell them when you're in control of said territory >
  
  I have a question. Why not just use Starlink? It seems like it would be vastly cheaper and if anything I would assume Starlink would be less likely to be targeted by China because no matter how much it helps Taiwan it belongs to an American company. I suppose China could try to pressure SpaceX to turn off coverage for the island, but given that they’ve been keeping coverage up for Ukraine even without being fully paid for it, I feel like that probably wouldn’t work for China. Thoughts? >
  
  Crucial communications infrastructure. Meant for national defense against a Chinese invasion. Controlled by a foreign, private company. Helmed by an erratic CEO. Who has major business assets in China and therefore subject to China’s goodwill. Who, depending on his mood, might decide to flick the on/off switch for funnies. 
  Questions? >
  
  Well sure. Anything sounds stupid when you put it like that. >
  
  Anything, though? You sure about that? >
  
  As is any other country with an army having witnessed the paradigm shift on the battlefield Starlink brings. >
  
  We are gonna experience some cool Kessler syndrom at some point in the future. >
  
  Possibly, but not from starlink or any item at those orbit heights. >
  
  Will be a good way to break the great firewall too >
  
  Taiwan is a small country, a global LEO network would be pointless. Much better served by geostationary or a weird Tundra Orbit like QZSS. >
  
  Agree. But I think an even smarter play is to have allies that own the LEO network and are willing to let you use it in a war. Just like how the US is sharing satellite intelligence (and Starlink) with Ukraine, but Russia is unable to shoot it down without starting a war with the US.
  So a LEO network publicly and jointly owned by Five Eyes for example (not a private company).
  It would be really handy for providing rural broadband to Australia (my country) and Canada too. After the tens of billions that we spent on the National Broadband Network, a contribution towards a shared LEO satellite network would be  relatively cheap. >
  
  I mean a geostationary satellite would do just fine, I assume Taiwan doesn't have that much money to spend? >
  
  Single point of failure that's also significantly more expensive and difficult to do vs a cheap and easily produced swarm of devices. Once war breaks out there's not gonna be an easy way to get infrastructure like a satelite in any form of orbit without a third party taking over. 
  Unfortunately it has the side effect of increasing clutter in the sky, but IMHO it's currently way overblown than people make it out to be atm (but let's be real, eventually it'll be saturated if there's a legit market for it) >
  
  I'm not sure where you got the info that GEO satellites are more expensive than LEO satellites though? >
  
  It's entirely dependent on how many LEO satellites would be needed. On a 1:1 basis though, GEO is more expensive. Larger satellites and several thousand miles higher elevation equals more $$$. >
  
  Does Taiwan have the capabilities to put up a Starlink sized constellation...  I thought the whole reason starlink worked is because with that many satellites it guaranteed 1 or 2 in the view of the antenna. Sure 1:1 they are more expensive, but my understanding is you'd only have coverage for a few minutes a day. >
  
  Yes that is correct; you'd need at least dozens of them to guarantee a constant connection.
  And you know, keeping dozens of satelites running is a complex ordeal >
  
  Should also be working on nuclear weapons. >
  
  Nuclear proliferation lets goo >
  
  Another bunch of bullshit to look forward to undoubtedly. Taiwan is not the key to solving China's problems tho. In fact pursuing this "unity" might do to China what Russia has done to themselves in invading Ukraine. >
  
  China already coming up with space satellite destroying weapons >
  
  Problem is doing that and any shrapnel damages any other nations satellites, it's an act of war >
  
  Yah the space junk can’t be stopped.. will be a disaster for all of humanity >
  
  Ahh yes. We need more trash in the skies. Perfect. >
  
  A good move, given Musk can’t be trusted to provide the same support. But why publicize the move. >
  
  
  Chinese revolution happens
  US backed nationalists retreat to Formosa, US threatens to nuke the mainland of China if they continue internal political change.
  UN recognizes PRC as only legitimate government of China in the 70s (including Taiwan).
  US pretends it cares about democracy to protect its relationship with microprocessor industry on the island.
  
  It would be like if the American revolution happened and then British loyalists fled to cape cod and declared itself an independent nation. But somehow this is kosher because China bad. >
  
  
  No matter what US really cares about, Taiwan is a democracy (since the 90s) while the PRC is not.
  Seven elections have been held in Taiwan with the ruling party changed three times, but a direct annexation by PRC has never been proposed.
  Even Hawaii or Puerto Rico is more analogous to Taiwan as a separate region. (although these places weren't under American or British rule at the time)
  It's funny how you ignored what the Taiwanese think.
  About the second point you mentioned: the PRC did not have the capability to land on Taiwan (they even failed at the Kinmen island some kilometers from the mainland); and the US did not threat to nuke China during the civil war. I don't know where you got this piece of information. >
  
  There is plenty of room