Mitigation
I. Integrate the Homeland Security Response Systems and Strengthen Prevention Efforts
To address the diverse nature of homeland security incidents, the Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Transportation and Communications, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Ministry of Environment, Ocean Affairs Council, and Nuclear Safety Commission have been designated as the central competent authority to the following incidents respectively: violence, economic infrastructure, transportation infrastructure, biological pathogens, toxic chemicals, maritime, and radioactive substances. The respective response groups are integrated into the homeland security response system.
Each response group has established a dedicated task force. Drawing upon lessons learned from major international incidents and various acts of malicious sabotage or terrorist attacks, these task forces have developed comprehensive contingency plans and operational mechanisms. Manpower utilization, resource allocation, emergency response procedures, and other essential aspects of security maintenance are considered in advance. This proactive approach aims to establish concrete strategies to mitigate the risks posed by significant man-made security threats or terrorist activities.
II.Promote the National Critical Infrastructure Security Protection Plan
Each central competent authorities are supervised to demand their respective CI providers to conduct comprehensive assessments following the suggestions of the CIP Guidelines. They shall take inventory of and review their assets and weak points, identify all-hazards risk items and evaluate potential threats, and then draft CI security protection plan with improvement and emergency response/protection measures, in order to enhance the resilience and continuous operation of core CI functions. Emphasis shall be placed on regional CI cooperation and interdependencies between facilities. The effectiveness of the various response procedures outlined in the security protection plans will be validated through practical operations and drills, ensuring continuous review and improvement.
According to the CIP Guidelines, CI are classified into three levels (Level I, II, and III) and encompasses nine primary sectors: energy (including electricity, petroleum and natural gas), water resources, communications and transmission, transportation (including land, sea, air transportation, and weather), finance, emergency rescue and hospitals, administration and agencies, science parks and industrial parks, and food. Each level of CI is supervised and managed by its’ designated competent authority. Their security protection plans shall be submitted to the competent authorities for approval and reference. Among which, Level I CIs’ security protection plans shall be submitted to the Executive Yuan for approval and reference. This tiered supervision and management system effectively strengthens protection capabilities, optimizes resource allocation, and completes security protection plans.
III.Strengthen Border Control Capacity and Enhance Port Prevention and Response Capabilities
Closely monitor domestic and international security developments, and coordinate with national security agencies and relevant ministries to strengthen international Counter-Terrorism intelligence exchange, cooperation, and experience sharing. Collaborate to enhance border control measures and investigations to prevent terrorist threats from reaching our borders.
With the advent of globalization, the rapid and diverse transportation and trade networks have accelerated the international spread of infectious diseases. To strengthen border control at airports and seaports and prevent potential public health hazards such as biological agents, foodborne illnesses, chemicals, zoonotic diseases, and nuclear radiation from entering the country, the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Ministry of Transportation and Communications have been working together since 2011. Referencing the core capacity standards for designated ports outlined in the World Health Organization's (WHO) International Health Regulations (IHR), they have established routine surveillance and reporting, inter-ministerial communication and coordination, and emergency response mechanisms at 23 entry ports in Taiwan. These measures aim to prevent the spread of various threats through international transportation systems and enhance border control capabilities.
IV. Increase Penalties for Malicious Sabotage to Deter Illegal Activities
In 2023, the Executive Yuan drafted amendment of 22 laws submitted to the Legislative Yuan, such as the Electricity Act, to strengthen the protection of CI. These amendments criminalize physical sabotage or virtual intrusions that disrupt the normal functioning of CI and other essential facilities. Penalties are increased if the intent is to harm national security or social stability, or if disasters result. These amendments were passed by the Legislative Yuan and implemented on June 28, 2023.
Preparedness
I. Optimize the Exchange of Early Warning Information and Proactively Detect Abnormal Activities
Coordinate and supervise ministries and agencies to effectively monitor homeland security information and the operational status of CI under their jurisdiction. Identify warning signs of threats and enhance capabilities in collecting and exchanging early warning information on terrorist activities, major human-caused security incidents, and events affecting CI security or continuous operations. Proactively identify abnormal dynamics and report them in a timely manner in accordance with the “Operation Directions on Homeland Security Contingency Notification” issued by the Executive Yuan's Homeland Security Office.
II. Oversee the Central Competent Authorities, Refining Task Preparation and Coordination Mechanisms
Oversee the central competent authorities to conduct training and exercises in accordance with their response plans respectively, and review work procedures based on exercise results. Through academic seminars, workshops, tabletop exercises (TTX), war games, and full-scale exercises, cross-agencies information exchange and drills on homeland security or complex incidents are hold. By doing so, interagency command, control, communication, information sharing, and resource integration are better facilitated to improve counter-terrorism and homeland security capabilities.
Additionally, we select and organize interagency exercises of the homeland security contingency response mechanism, focusing on the response to major man-made security incidents and terrorist attacks to verify crisis management and inter-agency coordination. Furthermore, we collaborate with counter-terrorism units from the Ministry of National Defense, the National Police Agency of the Ministry of the Interior, and the Ocean Affairs Council to conduct training exchanges or live exercises, validating cross-agency coordination in counter-terrorism missions. Through observation, joint training, coordinated operations, and command and control mechanisms, we aim to enhance the capabilities of counter-terrorism special forces.
III. Conduct Inspections and Exercises to Verify and Strengthen the Response Capabilities
Supervise relevant agencies in conducting drills for national security contingency mechanisms and establishing three-tiered (Executive Yuan, ministry, and CI levels) inspections and exercises for CI security protection to verify and strengthen emergency response capabilities, as detailed below:
- CI security inspection: Through on-site inspections, the completeness of the CI protection plan and its implementation situation are reviewed. Accordingly, the central competent authority shall supervise the CI under its jurisdiction to ensure every risk are well identified in a comprehensive manner. Correspondingly, prevention, response, and recovery plans shall be well drafted. All improvement efforts shall also be implemented in accordance with the improvement schedule.
- CI protection exercises: Tabletop exercises, war games and field exercises are employed to validate the effectiveness of security protection mechanisms and response measures. Necessary improvements shall be made accordingly. Meanwhile, newly emerging risks shall be taken into consideration. By integrating various protection personnel to participate in the exercises, partnerships is established to ensure timely response to various situations, effectively reduce damage, and achieve rapid recovery.