The Legislative Yuan today passed the remaining four of seven laws put forward by the Executive Yuan to protect critical undersea infrastructure, including one that criminalizes tampering with meteorological equipment.
Other provisions include permitting the immediate confiscation of equipment used to illegally damage undersea cables and forfeiture of vessels that refuse to leave port after being ordered to do so by the port authority without legitimate cause.
The Legislative Yuan passed amendments to the Water Supply Act (自來水法), Electricity Act (電業法) and Natural Gas Enterprise Act (天然氣事業法) on Tuesday last week, and today passed amendments to the Meteorological Act (氣象法), Telecommunications Management Act (電信管理法), Commercial Port Law (商港法) and Law of Ships (船舶法).
Photo: Aaron Tu, Taipei Times
These seven laws were put forward by the Executive Yuan on Sept. 18 to protect cables, pipes and other undersea infrastructure.
Amendments to the Meteorological Act stipulate that those who negligently damage or otherwise illegally harm the normal functioning of meteorological facilities or equipment are subject to up to six months in prison or detention, or fines up to NT$2 million (US$63,501).
Any tools, vessels or other equipment used by offenders would be confiscated regardless of whether they are owned by the offender or others.
When confiscation has been finalized by a judicial ruling, the property may — depending on the circumstances of the case — be auctioned or sold, transferred for free public use, destroyed or disposed of by other means.
Previously there was no stipulated punishments for those who negligently damage or otherwise harm meteorological equipment.
These provisions are meant to prevent damage to undersea infrastructure and communication cables, as there have been multiple cases of such damage in recent years both domestically and internationally.
Other amendments passed today obligate vessels to use the shipborne automatic identification system to disclose accurate information.
It also authorizes authorities to relocate or confiscate vessels that linger in port or use false identities.
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