Taiwan's space chief Wu Jong-shinn says the "clock is ticking" for the democratic island to launch its own satellites to secure internet and phone services during a potential conflict with China.

The island faces the constant threat of an invasion by Beijing, which claims the island is part of its territory and in recent years has intensified military pressure.

Taiwan needs 150 of its own low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites for "basic communication resilience" in case the subsea telecoms cables connecting the island with the rest of the world are damaged or cut, Wu told AFP in an interview.

It currently has none.

"We need to build up our own technology. But as you know... the clock is ticking," said Wu, director general of Taiwan Space Agency.

"We need to speed up."

Taiwanese authoritie

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