Taipei: The Taipei City government announced that the deployment of a China-made robot dog has been postponed until its contractor secures necessary government approvals and third-party cybersecurity certification.

According to Focus Taiwan, Deputy Head of the city's New Construction Office, Wang Chien-chung, stated at a press conference that although the robot was proposed by a contractor to assist in patrolling sidewalks, the project is yet to receive clearance. The robot dog, which was highlighted by Deputy Mayor Lee Ssu-chuan on social media, is touted for its potential to enhance patrol efficiency and navigate narrow sidewalks.

Concerns have been raised by Democratic Progressive Party councilors regarding the robot's safety, following confirmation that its body is manufactured by a Chinese company. They expressed fears that the manufacturer might remotely operate the device to collect data from Taipei's streets and questioned the decision not to consider local alternatives. The NT$700,000 (US$22,917) budget allocation for the robot was also scrutinized.

Wang clarified that the robot would function solely as a vehicle without network access and was acquired through a Taiwanese distributor. An official from the New Construction Office mentioned that the implementation, initially planned for the fourth quarter, will be delayed due to public concerns.

In a subsequent interview, Wang revealed that the robot was not part of the original contract and suggested that Taiwanese products would be recommended if available.

Moreover, Deputy Digital Minister Lin Yi-jing, who is set to become the minister, emphasized that government agencies are required to obtain ministry approval for using Chinese-brand information products. He noted that no application for the robot has been submitted and cautioned that high-tech devices could still be remotely controlled even after passing cybersecurity evaluations.