Zhang Boyi, a medical student at China Medical University, went missing while climbing Mount Baigushan alone. The Taipei District Court ruled that the Nantou County Fire Bureau’s inadequate rescue efforts warranted a national compensation payout of NT$2.67 million. Rescue personnel are disheartened; the family is also pursuing litigation against the Nantou County Government; meanwhile, future access to mountains for hikers faces higher barriers—resulting in a lose-lose-lose situation.
After the Zhang Boyi mountain rescue national compensation case, a Lin surnamed hiker fell into a valley during an outing in the Qianzhuowan Mountains of Ren’ai Township. In the past, volunteer rescue teams would have joined the search, but under the shadow of the national compensation ruling, civic groups hesitated to get involved, leaving only the Fire Bureau and Forestry Bureau to shoulder the rescue responsibilities out of duty.
Grassroots police and volunteer firefighters say this kind of “reward-less for merit, liable for mistakes” verdict is like a toxic doctor-patient relationship. No rescuer wants a tragic outcome, nor do they lack sympathy for the anxious families—but mountain rescues come with many variables and technical challenges. The more units involved, the greater the chance of something going wrong. How can such a verdict be satisfying?
After losing her son, Zhang Boyi’s mother, Du Lifang, has advocated for mountaineering insurance, enhanced mountain rescue capabilities, simplified helicopter emergency rescue application procedures, pushed for the revision and completion of the “Mountain Guide Certification Management Measures,” and promoted mountain education. Reviewing Ms. Du’s intentions, it is not about restricting hikers from entering the mountains, but rather reducing risks for rescuers during missions. She knows her child loved the mountains, and pushing for policy and institutional reforms is about giving parents the chance to see their children return.
However, the government’s response lacks root-cause thinking for reforming mountain rescue incidents, instead starting with restricting hiker access. Nantou County Magistrate Lin Mingzhen recently stated that within six months, the “Nantou County Mountain Climbing Management Autonomous Ordinance” will be drafted, banning solo climbs. Groups of at least three or more will be required to enter the mountains, undergo equipment checks, and rent GPS devices from the county government. Those who fail to comply may be forcibly detained. Lin Mingzhen even joked, “For serious violators, let the local police station detain them for a few days—that’ll scare them straight!”
Aside from potential constitutional issues such as restricting people's movements, the “Nantou County Mountain Climbing Management Autonomous Ordinance” that Magistrate Lin Mingzhen vows to establish still stems from a mindset of “prohibition” and “control,” lacking the spirit of “helping people engage in mountain activities correctly” or “promoting the establishment of a professional mountain rescue system.”
The mountaineering community also points out that although Nantou County is mountainous, many through-hiking and cross-mountain routes may start from Chiayi, Yilan, Hualien, or Kaohsiung. Even if the Nantou County Government enacts its own ordinances, there will still be loopholes no matter how strict the controls are. Without discussions with other counties and cities, implementation will be fundamentally unworkable.