Classified information on the upcoming Han Kuang military exercises (漢光演習) may have been leaked after a smart access card was reported stolen at a military police unit in Taipei.
The theft from the Shilin Military Police Station has raised alarms because the smart card was specially produced for the Han Kuang exercises and can access computer networks at the military command center containing troops and weaponry deployment information.
It has also heightened concerns because it was announced that President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) would board a Kidd-class destroyer to inspect the Han Kuang naval exercise off the east coast.
The theft was discovered by officers from the Military Police Command (MPC) as the smart card went missing from a secured room, supposedly under constant safeguarding at the Shilin Military Police Station.
According to a source who requested anonymity, it was being kept inside a safe, but other items and classified documents were not touched, and only the smart card was taken.
“It seemed the theft was aimed at this particular smart card containing information about the Han Kuang exercises, so we have reason to suspect the motive behind the theft. Since it was kept in a secured safe, needing a password to open it, it was most likely an inside job,” the source said.
The MPC has conducted an investigation and took in everyone at the station for questioning; however, the card remains missing and no suspect had been identified as of Thursday night.
In response, the MPC released a statement yesterday which confirmed the smart card had gone missing during staff training for the Han Kuang exercises, but added that the card’s access code has been invalidated.
“The smart card in question requires a password to operate and can be used on specific computers only. It cannot be used on regular computers to gain access and retrieve information. The card has been invalidated, thus no leak of classified information has occurred,” the statement said.
The MPC added that those in charge did not follow procedures on proper security and inspection, therefore internal assessments are to be made and necessary disciplinary measures taken.
The five-day exercises, scheduled to start on Sept. 15, will include live-fire drills in three locations: the waters off eastern Taiwan and south of Penghu, and at the Tri-Service Joint Combat Training Base in Pingtung County, according to the Ministry of National Defense.
For the drills off the east coast, to be attended by Ma, the naval maneuvers will include Kidd-class destroyers, Chengkung-class frigates, a Lafayette-class frigate and Kuang Hua VI-class (光華六號) missile boats.
It has been 25 years since a president rode on the nation’s warship to inspect naval training exercises — Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) did so in 1989.
According to the ministry, Ma will be aboard the Tsoying (左營號) destroyer to inspect the naval exercise on Sept. 17 and will return back to the base in Hualien Harbor.
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