National security officials have requested that military police be deployed to guard key infrastructure across the nation, in a bid to protect them from sabotage by sympathizers or supporters of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) during wartime, also known as “fifth column” activities, military sources said yesterday.
The threat from fifth column units is increasing due to a rise in immigrants, as well as members of organized crime groups being absorbed by the CCP, the sources said.
As they could follow instructions from the CCP to destroy or paralyze Taiwan’s power plants, oil and water storage facilities, communication facilities and science parks, the military police should be dispatched to guard them, because they are better equipped to handle such attacks, they said.
Photo: Ann Wang, Reuters
The Han Kuang military exercises last year included a simulated scenario in which the military police and the railway police worked together to secure Taipei Railway Station after the station master was taken hostage by fifth column members and railway tracks were damaged.
The Military Police Command has expanded its personnel quota to 11,000 after taking into account the infiltration of fifth column units and the potential damage they could do.
Meanwhile, military police training would be designed to bolster their ability to use firearms and defend infrastructure.
Public records show there are at least 5,000 fifth column individuals in Taiwan, Institute for National Defense and Security Research research fellow Su Tzu-yun (蘇紫雲) said when asked for comment.
“Attacks launched by the fifth column or lone wolves are potential threats to Taiwan. So, it is necessary to include armed protection in emergency response plans for key infrastructure,” Su said.
The nation’s key infrastructure is mainly protected by the Second Special Police Corps, Su said.
“The Executive Yuan has identified and classified more than 300 pieces of infrastructure into three security levels. While the Second Special Police [Corps] are tasked to handle threats, the military police would be contacted to offer immediate assistance if there are extenuating circumstances,” he said.
For power plants in coastal areas, the Second Special Police Corps, the Coast Guard Administration and the military police would jointly protect the facilities, Su said.
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