Legislators from multiple parties in Taiwan have submitted proposed amendments to the National Security Act aimed at preventing potential Chinese infiltration and safeguarding the nation’s democratic institutions, according to the Taipei Times.
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers, including Chuang Jui-hsiung, Chen Kuan-ting, and Wang Mei-hui, introduced draft revisions to Paragraph 1, Article 13 of the act, which focus on reinforcing the loyalty of military personnel, educators, and civil servants. The proposal calls for immediate implementation of security measures to address perceived legislative loopholes and mitigate risks to national security.
Under the draft, if individuals in sensitive positions are suspected of violating or abetting violations of certain articles in ways deemed harmful to national security, their agencies would be required to report the situation. With approval, the individuals could be suspended while investigations are conducted. In urgent cases, suspensions could take effect immediately, with reports submitted to superiors within three days. Chuang emphasized that while current laws penalize harmful acts, there are no provisions to address behaviors that could endanger national security without immediate or observable effects, making preventive measures necessary.
The draft passed its first reading and has been referred to the Legislative Yuan’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee for further review.
Separately, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers Wu Tsung-hsien, Huang Chien-hao, Niu Hsu-ting, and Liao Wei-hsiang proposed amendments to the Classified National Security Information Protection Act. The revisions seek to increase penalties for leaking classified information to China, Hong Kong, Macau, or enemy states, raising the maximum prison sentence to 12 years, with unintentional violations punishable by up to three years in prison and fines of up to NT$500,000.
Wu stressed the importance of clearly defining “foreign forces” and “acts of intervention” to prevent inadvertent violations during routine cross-strait interactions or political expression. He also called for a cross-party oversight mechanism to prevent selective enforcement, and urged the government to ensure the law protects national security without being used against political opponents.
The proposals reflect Taiwan’s heightened focus on safeguarding sensitive information and reinforcing preventive measures in the face of ongoing concerns over Chinese influence and potential infiltration.
