Lawmakers back harsher penalties for intentional cable damage

Taipei, Oct. 30 (CNA) The Legislative Yuan on Thursday completed a preliminary review of amendments that would impose harsher penalties on those who intentionally damage undersea telecommunications cables and water, gas or power pipelines.

The Economics Committee passed draft revisions to the Electricity Act, Natural Gas Enterprise Act and Water Supply Act, which set prison terms of one to seven years and fines of up to NT$10 million (US$325,555) for intentional damage to undersea facilities.

Damage to such infrastructure due to negligence would be punishable by up to six months in prison, detention, or fines of up to NT$2 million, in line with the Telecommunications Management Act.

Under the amendments, vessels or equipment used in such offenses could be confiscated, regardless of ownership.

Ships would also be required to keep their automatic identification systems (AIS) switched on at all times.

The amendments are part of the "seven undersea cable laws" package proposed by the Cabinet in September to enhance maritime security. The package also includes amendments to the Telecommunications Management Act, Meteorological Act, Commercial Port Law, and Law of Ships.

During the legislative session Thursday, lawmakers also passed a resolution urging the Ministry of the Interior to publicly release maps of undersea cables and pipelines before the full package is enacted to help ship operators avoid restricted zones, reduce legal disputes over intentional or negligent offenses and support law enforcement and investigations.

The legislation follows a series of cable damage incidents in waters around Taiwan, including one in February involving the Togolese-registered cargo ship Hong Tai 58.

The Hong Tai 58's Chinese captain was sentenced to three years in prison for damaging a submarine cable between Taiwan and Penghu.