The National Police Administra-tion (NPA) yesterday inaugurated an electronic command center designed to help the police maintain public order nationwide before, during and after today's election and referendum.
NPA Director-General Chang Si-liang (
Chang held a teleconference with authorities from police headquarters throughout the nation to gain a better understanding of their local security situation on the eve of today's election.
He instructed police authorities around the nation to prepare themselves for any contingencies in the event of scuffles or post-election riots.
Chang said the electronic command center will help police to monitor public order nationwide in real time.
A senior police official said "one could hardly imagine what frantic supporters might do" with campaigning so close.
One fanatical supporter of President Chen Shui-bian (
The man, surnamed Hsu, remained there for seven hours demanding to talk to a reporter from CNN until he finally gave himself up to police.
"I hope Chen could be re-elected. He may lose," he said as he was led away.
Meanwhile, officers from the NPA's public security division said that in light of reports that international terrorists have included Taiwan as a possible target, the administration has heightened surveillance nationwide, particularly in public places.
Surveillance of public transportation systems, infrastructure systems, airports and seaports will also be stepped up, officials said.
In related news, police said they are investigating nearly 2,000 cases of violence and bribery to try to influence the election, but have declined to specify the number of allegations made against each camp in the nation's two-horse race.
Officers said they did not believe the candidates, Chen of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (
"The suspects were found to have offered gifts, cash and free trips to voters in return for their support in Saturday's presidential polls," said Commissioner Hou Yo-yi (
People convicted of vote-buying can be jailed for up to 10 years and fined up to NT20 million (US$600,000).
The authorities are offering rewards of up to NT$15 million to anyone who can prove a presidential candidate was buying votes.
‘DENIAL DEFENSE’: The US would increase its military presence with uncrewed ships, and submarines, while boosting defense in the Indo-Pacific, a Pete Hegseth memo said The US is reorienting its military strategy to focus primarily on deterring a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan, a memo signed by US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth showed. The memo also called on Taiwan to increase its defense spending. The document, known as the “Interim National Defense Strategic Guidance,” was distributed this month and detailed the national defense plans of US President Donald Trump’s administration, an article in the Washington Post said on Saturday. It outlines how the US can prepare for a potential war with China and defend itself from threats in the “near abroad,” including Greenland and the Panama
The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) is maintaining close ties with Beijing, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said yesterday, hours after a new round of Chinese military drills in the Taiwan Strait began. Political parties in a democracy have a responsibility to be loyal to the nation and defend its sovereignty, DPP spokesman Justin Wu (吳崢) told a news conference in Taipei. His comments came hours after Beijing announced via Chinese state media that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theater Command was holding large-scale drills simulating a multi-pronged attack on Taiwan. Contrary to the KMT’s claims that it is staunchly anti-communist, KMT Deputy
RESPONSE: The government would investigate incidents of Taiwanese entertainers in China promoting CCP propaganda online in contravention of the law, the source said Taiwanese entertainers living in China who are found to have contravened cross-strait regulations or collaborated with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) could be subject to fines, a source said on Sunday. Several Taiwanese entertainers have posted on the social media platform Sina Weibo saying that Taiwan “must be returned” to China, and sharing news articles from Chinese state media. In response, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) has asked the Ministry of Culture to investigate whether the entertainers had contravened any laws, and asked for them to be questioned upon their return to Taiwan, an official familiar with the matter said. To curb repeated
Myanmar has turned down an offer of assistance from Taiwanese search-and-rescue teams after a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck the nation on Friday last week, saying other international aid is sufficient, the National Fire Agency said yesterday. More than 1,700 have been killed and 3,400 injured in the quake that struck near the central Myanmar city of Mandalay early on Friday afternoon, followed minutes later by a magnitude 6.7 aftershock. Worldwide, 13 international search-and-rescue teams have been deployed, with another 13 teams mobilizing, the agency said. Taiwan’s search-and-rescue teams were on standby, but have since been told to stand down, as