TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's National Land Management Agency (國土署) blocked Taipei's robotic dog patrol initiative Tuesday (Sept. 2), citing "security concerns" over Chinese-manufactured components in the proposed sidewalk surveillance system. The agency demanded the city secure proper authorization before deploying the technology, invoking existing restrictions on Chinese-made information and communication products in government operations. The regulatory intervention highlights Taiwan's ongoing efforts to limit mainland China technology in sensitive public infrastructure projects.
Taipei Vice Mayor Lee Shu-chuan (李四川) promoted the smart robotic dogs on Facebook Aug. 26, sparking immediate political controversy. Democratic Progressive Party (民進黨), Taiwan's ruling party, councilors quickly identified the robots' Chinese origins and demanded the project's suspension. Taipei's New Construction Office (新工處) defended the initiative by clarifying that the robotic dogs contain no transmission or networking capabilities, with Taiwanese companies handling all information systems integration to eliminate potential cybersecurity vulnerabilities.
The National Land Management Agency reinforced Taiwan's Executive Yuan (行政院), Taiwan's cabinet, 2019 directive prohibiting public agencies from utilizing Chinese-manufactured information and communication products. The agency instructed local governments to strictly adhere to the Information and Communication Security Management Act and associated regulations. Officials emphasized that securing technology supply chains remains critical for protecting Taiwan's domestic information infrastructure and broader national security interests against potential mainland China, China, threats. ◼