Lawmakers Question Security Lapse at Taoyuan Airport for Vice President.

Taipei: Lawmakers on Wednesday raised concerns over a security oversight involving Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim at Taoyuan International Airport, following an unexpected photo session with duty-free store employees the previous day. According to Focus Taiwan, Vice President Hsiao, accompanied by CPBL Commissioner Tsai Chi-chang, was at the airport to greet the national baseball team returning from Japan after their WBSC Premier 12 championship victory. After the official photo with the team, duty-free store employees, dressed in yellow uniforms, suddenly approached Hsiao for a group photo, displaying a banner with the store's name in front of the group. During a legislative hearing, Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Loh Meei-ling questioned the National Security Bureau (NSB) officials about the security lapse. Lee Ching-jan, deputy head of NSB's Special Service Command Center, explained that the incident took place in a restricted area of the arrivals, where security measures are typically less comple x. He added that the site had been previously surveyed by the Sports Administration, the Aviation Police Bureau, and other relevant agencies to ensure safety. However, Loh urged the bureau to review its protocols, emphasizing the potential danger posed by the sudden approach of the store employees. Opposition Kuomintang Legislator Hsu Chiao-hsin further inquired about the authorization given to the store personnel to enter the restricted area. Lee responded that the Sports Administration and Vice Presidential Office had granted the authorization. Hsu questioned the lack of intervention by special agents when the store personnel approached Vice President Hsiao. Lee assured that the bureau would reassess its "execution skills" to prevent such incidents in the future.