Taiwan bans use of telecoms products from ‘dangerous countries’ by government agencies
- Restriction on equipment or services that pose a national threat ‘no doubt includes China’, cabinet spokeswoman says
- Blacklist of producers, developers, manufacturers and suppliers will be drawn up soon
Taiwanese government agencies have been banned from using telecommunications services or equipment that pose a national threat, Taipei said on Friday, mirroring a similar move by the United States last year.
The ban, which was based on an executive order Premier Su Tseng-chang approved on Thursday, was targeted at all “dangerous countries”, which “no doubt includes China”, said the spokeswoman of the Executive Yuan, the self-ruled island’s cabinet.
The measure, which came into force Thursday and is retroactive, bans government agencies from buying or using telecommunications products and services considered to pose direct or indirect risks undermining the Taiwan’s communications safety, government operations or social security.
A blacklist of producers, developers, manufacturers and suppliers of such services or equipment will be made available soon and examined regularly. Permission must be obtained if services or equipment on the list are deemed absolutely necessary.
The measure will be applied to existing technology services or equipment at more than 10,000 government agencies, including the central government, local authorities, public schools and providers of key infrastructure.