TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Cabinet on Thursday approved draft amendments that would classify attacks on critical infrastructure and core systems as terrorist acts.
The amendments would revise and rename the Counter-Terrorism Financing Act to include the prevention of financing for the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, per CNA. The bill will be submitted to the Legislative Yuan for review, according to the Cabinet.
Cabinet Spokesperson Li Hui-chih (李慧芝) said Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) instructed agencies to strengthen controls on terrorist financing while closing regulatory gaps. The changes also call for improved targeted financial sanctions and enhanced reporting of suspicious transactions.
Under the draft, attacks on critical national infrastructure, major facilities, or core systems are defined as terrorist activities, per UDN. Providing funds, property-related benefits, or financial services linked to such acts would constitute terrorist financing.
The amendments would also restructure the review committee on terrorist financing, making sanction listings and delistings its central task. Given the role of shipping and trade in proliferation cases, the ministries of transportation and finance would be added to the committee.
The changes would also penalize concealing transaction data or disabling vessel tracking systems, with violations punishable by prison terms or fines.
