Military photovoltaic projects have been found to have used Chinese-made devices blacklisted by the government, including Huawei Technologies Co routers, the Ministry of National Defense’s Armaments Bureau said on Thursday.
An ongoing investigation has identified the illegal use of 128 current transformers, two routers and a data reader at the Hungchailin Army Base, Pinghai Navy Base and Tri-Service General Hospital’s Songshan branch, it said.
The devices were manufactured in the Chinese factories of German solar energy equipment supplier SMA Solar Technology, Taiwanese electronics manufacturer Delta Electronics Co, Chinese electronics manufacturer Huawei and Taiwanese industrial PC maker Advantech Co, the bureau said.
Photo: Dado Ruvic, Reuters
The bureau’s comments follow remarks by Taiwan People’s Party Legislator Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌), who in a news conference earlier the same day said the government has allowed its renewable initiative to become “a fifth column for Beijing,” as its national green energy team was using banned Chinese telecommunications devices in sensitive military sites.
He said the solar power projects at Hungchailin Army Base, Naval Fleet Command and National Defense University have used Chinese-made equipment.
The devices and equipment included power inverters, routers and computer control systems, he said.
The bureau said the ministry launched an investigation late last month following earlier statements by Huang about the usage of banned Chinese technology in military-run solar power projects.
Defense officials were evaluating devices in the military’s inventory, it said, adding that the numerous systems used in solar power programs complicated the task.
The probe showed that Taiwanese contractor United Renewable Energy Co and its subsidiary Yongliang Ltd installed banned Chinese-made equipment and devices at four solar power projects sites at three military facilities, the bureau said.
The ministry did not find any banned Chinese devices at National Defense University, it said.
The contractors were ordered to suspend operations and remove the Chinese-made devices, it said, adding that its legal affairs personnel and attorneys were reviewing the government’s legal options for the breach of contract.
The contractors could face fines or contract termination, it said.
Additional reporting by Huang Ching-hsuan
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