Eight Taiwanese are being monitored because of suspicion they are affiliated with the Islamic State group, the National Security Bureau (NSB) said yesterday.
Bureau section head Huang Yu-shun (黃裕順) told a legislative hearing that the eight were mentally unstable and the bureau was keeping close track of them.
In a previous report to the legislature’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee, the bureau said eight Taiwanese had been identified as possible Islamic State sympathizers.
Huang was asked by Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Tsai Shih-ying (蔡適應) for an update on the situation.
Tsai also asked about the deportation of an Indonesian woman late last month on suspicion she was affiliated with the militant group.
NSB Director-General Peng Sheng-chu (彭勝竹) said the woman had been deported because her work in Taiwan was not consistent with the stated purpose of her entry and she had overstayed her visa.
On the possibility of Islamic State affiliates taking advantage of the Universiade in Taipei to enter Taiwan, Peng said the bureau has security measures in place and has been exchanging information with other nations on a list of suspected Islamic State members.
So far, no one on the list has entered Taiwan, Peng said, adding that the bureau will continue to cooperate with the National Immigration Agency to monitor arrivals.
More than 12,000 athletes from 150 countries are to take part in the student games from Aug. 19 to Aug. 30.
SHIPS, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES: The ministry has announced changes to varied transportation industries taking effect soon, with a number of effects for passengers Beginning next month, the post office is canceling signature upon delivery and written inquiry services for international registered small packets in accordance with the new policy of the Universal Postal Union, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications said yesterday. The new policy does not apply to packets that are to be delivered to China, the ministry said. Senders of international registered small packets would receive a NT$10 rebate on postage if the packets are sent from Jan. 1 to March 31, it added. The ministry said that three other policies are also scheduled to take effect next month. International cruise ship operators
NUMBERS IMBALANCE: More than 4 million Taiwanese have visited China this year, while only about half a million Chinese have visited here Beijing has yet to respond to Taiwan’s requests for negotiation over matters related to the recovery of cross-strait tourism, the Tourism Administration said yesterday. Taiwan’s tourism authority issued the statement after Chinese-language daily the China Times reported yesterday that the government’s policy of banning group tours to China does not stop Taiwanese from visiting the country. As of October, more than 4.2 million had traveled to China this year, exceeding last year. Beijing estimated the number of Taiwanese tourists in China could reach 4.5 million this year. By contrast, only 500,000 Chinese tourists are expected in Taiwan, the report said. The report
Temperatures are forecast to drop steadily as a continental cold air mass moves across Taiwan, with some areas also likely to see heavy rainfall, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. From today through early tomorrow, a cold air mass would keep temperatures low across central and northern Taiwan, and the eastern half of Taiwan proper, with isolated brief showers forecast along Keelung’s north coast, Taipei and New Taipei City’s mountainous areas and eastern Taiwan, it said. Lows of 11°C to 15°C are forecast in central and northern Taiwan, Yilan County, and the outlying Kinmen and Lienchiang (Matsu) counties, and 14°C to 17°C
STEERING FAILURE: The first boat of its class is experiencing teething issues as it readies for acceptance by the navy, according to a recent story about rudder failure The Hai Kun (海鯤), the nation’s first locally built submarine, allegedly suffered a total failure of stern hydraulic systems during the second round of sea acceptance trials on June 26, and sailors were forced to manually operate the X-rudder to turn the submarine and return to port, news Web site Mirror Daily reported yesterday. The report said that tugboats following the Hai Kun assisted the submarine in avoiding collisions with other ships due to the X-rudder malfunctioning. At the time of the report, the submarine had completed its trials and was scheduled to begin diving and surfacing tests in shallow areas. The X-rudder,
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