NSB boosting anti-drone systems, monitoring extremists to protect leaders

Taipei, Oct. 19 (CNA) Taiwan's National Security Bureau (NSB) is continuing its efforts to enhance the protection of national political leaders by bolstering its counter-drone capabilities and closely monitoring political extremists, according to a report submitted recently to lawmakers.

Security threats to Taiwan's president, vice president, Cabinet members, and other top officials are on the rise amid a complex, hazardous landscape and sophisticated Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technology, the bureau said in the report on how to improve security for the country's political leaders.

With the rapid development of technology, smaller multifunctional drones are becoming available at a relatively low cost, the NSB said in the report submitted last week.

Such drones are difficult to detect and, therefore, have become "a serious threat" to the safety of top-level officials and critical infrastructure in Taiwan, the NSB said.

Small smart drones can be used to attack a target, collect intelligence, and interfere with communications, the NSB said.

To counter the growing threat, the NSB said, it has purchased new anti-drone guns and drone jammers to replace those that have been in use for years, with the aim of enhancing its countermeasure capabilities.

In its report, the NSB also said the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) continues to "infiltrate, spy on, and offer bribes" to retired and incumbent Taiwanese military personnel to gather intelligence.

The CCP also recruits individuals in Taiwan to stage protests and disruptions at public events attended by Taiwan's president or vice president, the bureau said.

In response to those threats, the NSB said, it will seek to enhance information sharing among police and local intelligence agencies in a bid to counter the CCP infiltration campaign, cybercrime, and large-scale protests, and will make timely adjustments to its deployment of security details.

The bureau said it will also create a database of information related to political extremists and groups with violent tendencies.

In addition, the NSB said, it will work closely with local police and the online intelligence collection system to regulate and monitor the activities of such groups and individuals, to better protect the safety of Taiwan's political leaders.

The NSB report will be reviewed by lawmakers on Monday during a session of the Legislature's Internal Administration Committee.