Citing concerns over severe breaches of national security, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) has strongly opposed the Ministry of Transportation and Communication’s (MOTC) approval of applications from Chinese ships to moor off the coast of Taiwan today to assist with the installation of offshore wind turbines.
Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Kuan Bi-ling (管碧玲) said on Friday that she invited National Security Bureau Director-General Lee Hsiang-chou (李翔宙) and Minister of National Defense Yen Ming (嚴明) to explain how the installation could harm national security.
Lee was quoted by Kuan as saying that the Chinese lifting ship the Huadian 1001 must be towed into a dry dock in Taichung Harbor for closer inspection, adding that the ship must take the straightest possible route from Shanghai to Taichung Harbor to minimize risk to national security.
Yen was quoted by Kuan as saying that the ships “must not” be allowed access to “internal waters.”
In its dicussion with the bureau held later that afternoon, the defense ministry was adamant in its position that the Chinese ships “must not” be allowed access to “internal waters,” Kuan quoted MND Deputy Minister Kao Tien-chung (高天忠) as telling her, adding that information about tidal speeds, tidal direction, wave heights, tidal periods, water temperatures, seasalinity and density, and seabed materials could all be revealed.
As Fuhai Wind Farm Corp (福海風電公司) has applied to use Chinese ships to set up 30 platforms at different depths, Kao was quoted by Kuan as saying that Chinese ships would be able to return to China with complete and even three-dimensional hydrological information, adding that it was quite possible that the ships could also capture the routes of other vessels passing through the area.
Kao said the defense ministry strongly suggested that the MOTC deny the Huadian 1001 entry, adding that if the ship cannot be substituted, it would not be allowed to leave port before it is fully inspected by officials and after the results of the sweep were confirmed by officials from both the Maritime and Port Bureau and the defense ministry.
Kuan said that the Chinese towboat the Xigang No. 36, tasked with delivering the Huadian 1001, should be denied berthing rights in Taichung Harbor, adding that its presence could potentially allow it to record the sonar patterns of passing ships and establish a comprehensive record of ships using the harbor.
Tropical Storm Gaemi strengthened into a typhoon at 2pm yesterday, and could make landfall in Yilan County tomorrow, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The agency was scheduled to issue a sea warning at 11:30pm yesterday, and could issue a land warning later today. Gaemi was moving north-northwest at 4kph, carrying maximum sustained winds near its center of up to 118.8kph and gusts of 154.8kph. The circumference is forecast to reach eastern Taiwan tomorrow morning, with the center making landfall in Yilan County later that night before departing from the north coast, CWA weather forecaster Kuan Shin-ping (官欣平) said yesterday. Uncertainty remains and
SEA WARNING LIKELY: The storm, named Gaemi, could become a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, with the Taipei City Government preparing for flooding A tropical depression east of the Philippines developed into a tropical storm named Gaemi at 2pm yesterday, and was moving toward eastern Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Gaemi could begin to affect Taiwan proper on Tuesday, lasting until Friday, and could develop into a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, it said. A sea warning for Gaemi could be issued as early as Tuesday morning, it added. Gaemi, the third tropical storm in the Pacific Ocean this typhoon season, is projected to begin moving northwest today, and be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday or Thursday, the agency said. Today, there would likely
DISRUPTIONS: The high-speed rail is to operate as normal, while several airlines either canceled flights or announced early departures or late arrivals Schools and offices in 15 cities and counties are to be closed today due to Typhoon Gaemi, local governments announced last night. The 15 are: Taipei, New Taipei City, Taoyuan, Tainan, Keelung, Hsinchu and Kaohsiung, as well as Yilan, Hualien, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Lienchiang counties. People should brace for torrential rainfall brought by the storm, with its center forecast to make landfall on the east coast between tonight and tomorrow morning, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The agency issued a sea warning for the typhoon at 11:30pm on Monday, followed by a land warning at 11:30am yesterday. As of
CASUALTY: A 70-year-old woman was killed by a falling tree in Kaohsiung as the premier warned all government agencies to remain on high alert for the next 24 hours Schools and offices nationwide are to be closed for a second day today as Typhoon Gaemi crosses over the nation, bringing torrential rain and whipping winds. Gaemi was forecast to make landfall late last night. From Tuesday night, its outer band brought substantial rainfall and strong winds to the nation. As of 6:15pm last night, the typhoon’s center was 20km southeast of Hualien County, Central Weather Administration (CWA) data showed. It was moving at 19kph and had a radius of 250km. As of 3pm yesterday, one woman had died, while 58 people were injured, the Central Emergency Operation Center said. The 70-year-old