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Lawrence Chung

Google’s new 3D maps may have inadvertently exposed some of Taiwan’s most sensitive military sites, but the risk it poses to the self-ruled island is low, according to a security expert.
That is because Beijing already has advanced surveillance systems at its disposal to gather intelligence on Taiwan, Chieh Chung, senior national security research fellow at the National Policy Foundation, a think tank affiliated with the Kuomintang, said on Tuesday.
He said the island would also be able to detect mainland military action in time, and that Taipei could also get information on the People’s Liberation Army’s activities through the United States and Japan.
While Google’s latest 3D-rendered maps have revealed details of some secret military locations, Chieh said it would be difficult for Beijing to build up enough data to analyse Taiwan’s military deployments and movements based on those maps.
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He said satellite images taken by Google Earth were not necessarily the most up to date.
“The mainland would be setting its reconnaissance satellites to take regular images of the same site numerous times so that they can learn through all of those images if there are any movements or deployments going on at the site,” Chieh said.
He added that many images taken over time would be needed to make this comparison, not just the one or two provided by Google Maps.

Taipei, however, does not have reconnaissance satellites of its own to monitor military sites or facilities on the mainland.
“But Taiwan can obtain intelligence about important military sites and movements involving the People’s Liberation Army from the United States,” he said, adding that Taiwan also regularly exchanged intelligence with Japan, which provided the island with information on the mainland’s north and northeastern areas.
That information and other intelligence gathered from its networks would give Taipei an early warning of any PLA military action targeting the island, he said.
Taiwan could also launch missiles and other counter-attacks towards the PLA’s facilities based on satellite images provided by Washington in the event of a cross-strait conflict, according to Chieh.


Google’s accidental exposure of Taiwanese military sites – including its facilities for the US-made Patriot missiles – has raised security concerns among lawmakers and the public.
The new 3D maps – an extension of its original satellite mapping of the world’s major cities – feature better imagery and three-dimensional terrain for Taipei, New Taipei, Taoyuan and Taichung, according to Google Earth.
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But all structures – down to the types of launchers and models of missiles – are clearly visible on the new maps, including the previously secret Patriot missile base in Ankeng, Taipei, as well as defence infrastructure at the National Security Bureau and the Military Intelligence Bureau.
The breach follows a period of intense pressure from Beijing, which considers Taiwan to be a wayward province that must be reunited by force if necessary.


Taiwan’s Defence Minister Yen Teh-fa said a task force had been formed to work with Google to seek appropriate adjustments to ensure national security was safeguarded. He also said military infrastructure locations during peacetime would not be the same as during a war.
It is not the first time Taiwan has asked for details of its military facilities to be obscured by Google. In 2016, it asked the tech giant to blur out part of Taiping Island, or Itu Aba, in the South China Sea, where it was building a military fortification.
According to a military source, Google does not hide any locations considered sensitive by local authorities unless they ask the company to do so, or if a deal is negotiated.


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Taiwan

Google Maps military security breach not a big risk for Taiwan, expert says

Some of Taiwan’s most sensitive military sites have been revealed in Google’s latest 3D maps. Photo: Handout

Patriot missile installation in Xindian district in Taiwan. National security authorities will talk with Google over satellite imagery showing the exact locations of Taiwan's Patriot missiles on Google Map, Minister of National Defense Yen De-fa said Friday, 15th February, 2019.

News

China

Military

Beijing already has satellite images of sites exposed by new 3D maps from its advanced surveillance systems, according to researcher
Taipei can gather its own intelligence on PLA activities through US and Japan


Beijing already has satellite images of sites exposed by new 3D maps, and Taipei can gather its own intelligence on PLA activities through US and Japan, according to researcher.


Google Maps

Google

Google Maps military security breach not a big risk for Taiwan, expert says

Beijing already has satellite images of sites exposed by new 3D maps from its advanced surveillance systems, according to researcher Taipei can gather its own intelligence on PLA activities through US and Japan

Beijing already has satellite images of sites exposed by new 3D maps from its advanced surveillance systems, according to researcher

Taipei can gather its own intelligence on PLA activities through US and Japan