-
U.S. House backs Taiwan military training in defense bill
The U.S. House Armed Services Committee has agreed to include provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24 NDAA) to assist in the training of Taiwan’s armed forces. The bill, with a budget of USUS$876.8 billion, requires the U.S. Department of Defense to develop a comprehensive training and advisory program for Taiwan’s military. The program will only proceed with the consent of the Secretary of State and after consultations with Taiwanese officials. The legislation aims to enhance Taiwan’s multilayered defense capabilities, including asymmetric defense strategies and interoperability with U.S. forces. It also promotes cybersecurity cooperation and the protection of military networks. The NDAA mandates biannual reporting on China’s military developments in Taiwan, Southeast Asia, and the South China Sea. Additionally, a classified report will evaluate the absorption of U.S.-provided military capabilities by Taiwan’s armed forces. After approval by Congress, President Joe Biden is expected to sign the bill into law, strengthening U.S.-Taiwan defense relations.2023/12/08 17:19 -
Taiwan’s MJIB adds deputy director for cybercrime fight
Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan has passed a bill appointing an additional deputy director to the Ministry of Justice’s Investigation Bureau (MJIB) to enhance its capacity in handling surveillance technology and combating cybercrime. The new position will focus on managing technological development, detecting computer and internet-related crimes, ensuring information security, conducting forensic science, and overseeing communication surveillance. The move comes in response to the increasing demand for expertise in these specialized areas. Currently, the MJIB operates under the guidance of two deputy directors, but the rise in sophisticated crime has led to a significant workload increase in judicial forensic investigations. By expanding the number of deputy director positions from two to three, the MJIB aims to improve the professional handling of surveillance technology and strengthen national defense mechanisms. This legislative revision demonstrates Taiwan’s commitment to staying ahead of the curve in a rapidly changing security landscape and elevating the nation’s defense against cyber threats.2023/12/05 21:46 -
Unauthorized photography around military bases prohibited
Taiwan’s Minister of National Defense, Chiu Kuo-cheng, stated that the Ministry will not interfere with general aviation enthusiasts taking photographs, but any behavior involving scaling walls to capture military installations will be considered reconnaissance activities. This announcement was made during a review of the draft "Military Base Security Maintenance Regulations" bill at the Legislative Yuan’s Foreign and National Defense Committee. According to the draft bill, unauthorized reconnaissance activities directed at military camp areas, such as measurement, filming, photography, depiction, or description, can result in fines ranging from NT$30,000 to NT$150,000 if they compromise national security. The committee discussed potential issues related to dash cameras unintentionally filming the area or residents of high-rise buildings next to a base. Deputy Chief of Combat Planning, Chen Wen-Hsing, clarified that the draft bill mainly targets harmful reconnaissance activities, while general photography activities remain unaffected. Minister Chiu emphasized that unauthorized photography in restricted areas is considered reconnaissance. Kuomintang legislator Chen I-hsin raised concerns about possible conflicts between existing "Vital Area Regulations" and the proposed new law, suggesting the incorporation of maintaining military base security into existing regulations as a specific chapter.2023/11/20 19:09