00:00In waters near Taiwan, those usually taxed with guarding the coast
00:06now find themselves guarding critical infrastructure deep below.
00:10Using ships and fishing boats, China has been sabotaging the cables that keep Taiwan online.
00:15Now, changes to the law could give Taiwan a tour to fight back.
00:19On Thursday, changes to three acts, the Electricity Act, the Natural Gas Enterprise Act
00:32and the Water Supply Act, passed the first of three reviews in the legislature.
00:37They're aimed to protect Taiwan's key infrastructure by providing harsher punishments
00:42for those caught tampering with underwater internet, gas, water and power infrastructure.
00:48It's all part of a broader package known as the Seven Undersea Cable Laws.
00:53These changes could allow authorities to seize vessels
00:56and charge any involved crew with up to seven years in prison.
01:18But harsh punishments won't be a deterrence if perpetrators don't fear getting caught.
01:23On average, Taiwan's cables are damaged or tempered with eight times a year.
01:29These incidents, which could take Taiwan offline, expose real vulnerabilities within the country,
01:34communications lifelines, to boost cable security and deter interference,
01:40officials hope the proposed law changes will give Taiwan and its Coast Guard a new edge
01:45in the coming months.
01:46Patrick Chen and Ellen Liu for Taiwan Plus.
01:48On average, Taiwan's cables are damaged or tempered with eight times a year.
01:52These incidents, which could take Taiwan offline, expose real vulnerabilities within the country's
01:58communications lifelines.
02:00To boost cable security and deter interference, officials hope the proposed law changes will give Taiwan
02:06and its Coast Guard a new edge in the coming months.
02:11Patrick Chen and Ellen Liu for Taiwan Plus.
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