A Taiwanese influencer has been hit with a heavy fine for flying a drone over a restricted zone near a nuclear plant, and the case has turned into a fight over whether Chinese-made drones are a security hole.

• Chung Ming-hsuan was fined NT$330,000 after flying a drone over the Kenting area, mostly for entering the no-fly zone around the third nuclear power plant.
• A smaller part of the fine was for not displaying a Taiwan registration number on the aircraft.
• He said the drone's own app told him he was verified and cleared to fly, so he assumed he was following the rules until the fine arrived.
• A military-focused page argued the case proves Chinese drones running Chinese maps and Chinese registration systems are quietly flying over Taiwan's sensitive sites.
• Investigators push back, saying the drone was locally made and registered in Taiwan, and the fine was steep mainly because of his public profile.

Outlook: Expect pressure on regulators to tighten checks on drone software and mapping data, and clearer signage at tourist spots near restricted airspace.