The Executive Yuan today plans to approve amendments to seven laws to protect undersea cables and other critical infrastructure, applying the same penalties for damaging water and natural gas pipelines as for damaging submarine cables.
The amendments also include provisions for confiscating vessels used in such crimes and require all ships to keep their automatic identification systems turned on or face penalties.
Of the seven laws, five address penalties and complementary measures concerning undersea cable sabotage, while two address vessel control, Minister Without Portfolio Lin Ming-hsin (林明昕) said.
Photo: Chung Li-hua, Taipei Times
The first five laws are the Telecommunications Management Act (電信管理法), Electricity Act (電業法), Natural Gas Enterprise Law (天然氣事業法), Tap Water Act (自來水法) and Meteorological Act (氣象法). The two covering vessel control are the Commercial Port Law (商港法) and the Shipping Act (船舶法).
While critical infrastructure is already protected by law, the amendments extend this protection to include water and natural gas pipelines, with penalties to be applied according to the Telecommunications Management Act, Lin said.
Under the act, those who endanger the normal functioning of a submarine cable by means including theft and destruction face a prison term of one to seven years and a fine of up to NT$10 million (US$332,292).
Those found guilty of intentionally endangering national security or social stability face a sentence of three to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to NT$50 million.
If their actions result in disaster, death or serious injury, the maximum penalty is life in prison and a fine of up to NT$100 million, while negligence is punishable by up to six months in prison, detention or a fine of up to NT$2 million.
Foreign travelers entering Taiwan on a short layover via Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport are receiving NT$600 gift vouchers from yesterday, the Tourism Administration said, adding that it hopes the incentive would boost tourism consumption at the airport. The program, which allows travelers holding non-Taiwan passports who enter the country during a layover of up to 24 hours to claim a voucher, aims to promote attractions at the airport, the agency said in a statement on Friday. To participate, travelers must sign up on the campaign Web site, the agency said. They can then present their passport and boarding pass for their connecting international
Temperatures in northern Taiwan are forecast to reach as high as 30°C today, as an ongoing northeasterly seasonal wind system weakens, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said yesterday that with the seasonal wind system weakening, warmer easterly winds would boost the temperature today. Daytime temperatures in northern Taiwan and Yilan County are expected to range from 28°C to 30°C today, up about 3°C from yesterday, Tseng said. According to the CWA, temperature highs in central and southern Taiwan could stay stable. However, the weather is expected to turn cooler starting tonight as the northeasterly wind system strengthens again
COOLING OFF: Temperatures are expected to fall to lows of about 20°C on Sunday and possibly 18°C to 19°C next week, following a wave of northeasterly winds on Friday The Central Weather Administration (CWA) on Sunday forecast more rain and cooler temperatures for northern Taiwan this week, with the mercury dropping to lows of 18°C, as another wave of northeasterly winds sweeps across the country. The current northeasterly winds would continue to affect Taiwan through today, with precipitation peaking today, bringing increased rainfall to windward areas, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng (劉沛滕) said. The weather system would weaken slightly tomorrow before another, stronger wave arrives on Friday, lasting into next week, Liu said. From yesterday to today, northern Taiwan can expect cool, wet weather, with lows of 22°C to 23°C in most areas,
Three Taiwanese airlines have prohibited passengers from packing Bluetooth earbuds and their charger cases in checked luggage. EVA Air and Uni Air said that Bluetooth earbuds and charger cases are categorized as portable electronic devices, which should be switched off if they are placed in checked luggage based on international aviation safety regulations. They must not be in standby or sleep mode. However, as charging would continue when earbuds are placed in the charger cases, which would contravene international aviation regulations, their cases must be carried as hand luggage, they said. Tigerair Taiwan said that earbud charger cases are equipped
RSS