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Taiwan passes law to tighten security at military facilities

ROC Central News Agency

12/18/2023 08:13 PM

Taipei, Dec. 18 (CNA) The Legislative Yuan on Monday passed a bill to tighten the security of military bases around Taiwan, after legal reviews found existing regulations to be insufficient to maintain an adequate level of security.

Under the bill, people inside a military facility taking unauthorized pictures or video or engaging in any other reconnaissance activities with an intent to endanger national security shall be subject to up to three years in jail.

Those who engage in such actions from outside a military facility will be fined NT$30,000 (US$958) to NT$150,000, according to the new law.

The military facilities covered by the legislation include critical military infrastructure, garrisons, areas viewed as military bases for the purpose of drills or training, and agencies such as the Ministry of National Defense (MND), the National Security Bureau and the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology.

New regulations were considered necessary because of the lack of laws covering security at military exercise and training facilities, negatively affecting the military's ability to keep those bases secure.

The new law also included provisions on handling drone intrusions, given their growing prevalence.

It said that soldiers on duty, including commanders, officers and sentry guards, may use all necessary equipment, including weapons, to disable drones or other unmanned flying objects operating over a restricted military base if they are determined to endanger national security.

Meanwhile, individuals caught entering restricted military areas will be subject to a fine of between NT$40,000 and NT$200,000 for trespassing.

People who bring a video recorder, camera, or weapon into a military facility without permission and refuse to surrender it when challenged will have their entry permit revoked and face a fine of between NT$10,000 and NT$50,000.

In a statement Monday, the MND clarified that the new law will not apply to military aficionados taking pictures or filming fighter jets landing and taking off from a military base, if such actions did not endanger the safety of military activities or national security.

(By Lin Ching-yin, Matt Yu and Ko Lin)

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