The government is to step up security measures on railway systems by increasing the number of surveillance cameras on trains and possibly introducing passenger security checks, Minister of Transportation and Communications Yeh Kuang-shih (葉匡時) said yesterday.
Yeh made the comments during a legislative question-and-answer session that focused on an incident on Friday in which homemade explosive devices were found in suitcases in a restroom on a Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) train.
About three hours after the two suitcases containing explosive devices and gasoline were discovered on the train, two similar bombs were found in front of the office of Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Lu Chia-chen (盧嘉辰) in New Taipei City (新北市).
Photo: Chien Jung-fong, Taipei Times
Lu said it was the most serious security incident in the nation’s transportation history.
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Lee Kun-tse (李昆澤) said that if an explosion occurred on a fully-loaded train traveling at a speed of almost 300kph it could cost about 1,000 lives.
He said the government should strengthen police patrols, improve and increase surveillance and monitoring systems and hold regular security drills.
In response, Yeh said that because the police force does not have sufficient manpower, more security guards would be employed to strengthen security at THSR and Taiwan Railways Administration stations.
Since subway systems fall under the jurisdiction of local governments, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications would also coordinate with local governments to increase the number of security personnel in subway systems within a month, Yeh added.
On the issue of passenger security checks, Yeh said that China is the only country in the world that employs this measure.
However, “we could consider doing the same,” Yeh said, adding that the ministry would study the feasibility of installing X-ray scanners at every station along railway lines and would come up with a report in a month’s time.
The Bureau of High Speed Rail is considering installing surveillance systems in trains’ luggage areas and at its stations’ entrances and exits, bureau Director-General Chu Shu (朱樹) said.
However, it is unlikely that surveillance systems will be installed in train carriages, in consideration of personal privacy and also because new surveillance systems are not compatible with the old train carriages, he said.
The Chinese military has built landing bridge ships designed to expand its amphibious options for a potential assault on Taiwan, but their combat effectiveness is limited due to their high vulnerability, a defense expert said in an analysis published on Monday. Shen Ming-shih (沈明室), a research fellow at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, said that the deployment of such vessels as part of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy’s East Sea Fleet signals a strong focus on Taiwan. However, the ships are highly vulnerable to precision strikes, which means they could be destroyed before they achieve their intended
The first two F-16V Bock 70 jets purchased from the US are expected to arrive in Taiwan around Double Ten National Day, which is on Oct. 10, a military source said yesterday. Of the 66 F-16V Block 70 jets purchased from the US, the first completed production in March, the source said, adding that since then three jets have been produced per month. Although there were reports of engine defects, the issue has been resolved, they said. After the jets arrive in Taiwan, they must first pass testing by the air force before they would officially become Taiwan’s property, they said. The air force
GLOBAL: Although Matsu has limited capacity for large numbers of domestic tourists, it would be a great high-end destination for international travelers, an official said Lienchiang County’s (Matsu) unique landscape and Cold War history give it great potential to be marketed as a destination for international travelers, Tourism Administration Director General Chen Yu-hsiu (陳玉秀) said at the weekend. Tourism officials traveled to the outlying island for the Matsu Biennial, an art festival that started on Friday to celebrate Matsu’s culture, history and landscape. Travelers to Matsu, which lies about 190km northwest of Taipei, must fly or take the state-run New Taima passenger ship. However, flights are often canceled during fog season from April to June. Chen spoke about her vision to promote Matsu as a tourist attraction in
PAWSITIVE IMPACT: A shop owner said that while he adopted cats to take care of rodents, they have also attracted younger visitors who also buy his dried goods In Taipei’s Dadaocheng (大稻埕), cats lounging in shops along Dihua Street do more than nap amid the scent of dried seafood. Many have become beloved fixtures who double as photography models, attracting visitors and helping boost sales in one of the capital’s most historic quarters. A recent photo contest featuring more than a dozen shop cats drew more than 2,200 submissions, turning everyday cat-spotting into a friendly competition that attracted amateur and professional photographers. “It’s rare to see cats standing, so when it suddenly did, it felt like a lucky cat,” said Sabrina Hsu (徐淳蔚), who won the NT$10,000 top prize in
RSS