A Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislator yesterday said he has submitted a bill that would stipulate penalties for certain espionage-related activities.
The National Security Act (國家安全法) does not stipulate penalties for participating in organizational activities on behalf of a foreign power, or the recruitment of people for such activities, DPP Legislator Wang Ting-yu (王定宇) said.
The bill would apply in situations such as the case of former army colonel Hsiang Te-en (向德恩) who was last year sentenced to seven years and six months in prison by the Kaohsiung District Court for accepting NT$560,000 in bribes from Chinese sources to work as a spy, Wang said.
Photo: Reuters
Hsiang had also signed a letter of surrender with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), posing in a photograph with the document in military attire and pledging assistance, to the best of his abilities, in the event of an invasion.
Hsiang received a relatively lenient sentence because current laws do not stipulate penalties for contraventions such as pledging allegiance to an enemy and cooperating with an enemy in “united front” operations, Wang said.
“Hsiang’s case has ignited concerns at all levels about how the government should respond to Chinese infiltration,” he said.
In February last year, the Ministry of Justice invited the National Security Bureau, the Mainland Affairs Council, the Investigation Bureau and local prosecutors’ offices to discuss the matter, he said.
“Most of the officials who attended the discussion expressed their belief that to maintain national security, it must be illegal for even former military personnel to pledge allegiance to the CCP,” he said.
Article 2 of the National Security Act only prohibits “initiating, funding, hosting, manipulating, directing or developing an organization” for hostile foreign forces.
The bill would add participating in organizational activities to the act, he said.
The article also stipulates that those found “disclosing, delivering or transmitting confidential documents” may be sentenced to one to seven years imprisonment, while those found “collecting confidential documents” through espionage may be sentenced to between six months and five years.
The amendment would increase those sentences, because such acts could threaten the safety of national security personnel or the execution of their missions, or could result in the arrest of intelligence personnel, confiscation of property or destruction of facilities, which would harm national interests, he said.
The amendments would apply to military personnel or civil servants who use their authority to develop organizations on behalf of hostile foreign forces, he said.
Taiwan last night blanked world No. 1 Japan 4-0 to win the World Baseball Softball Confederation’s (WBSC) Premier12 for the first time. Taiwanese ace Lin Yu-min (林昱珉) held defending champions Japan to just one hit and no runs in the first four innings, before catcher Lin Chia-cheng (林家正) opened the fifth inning with a solo home run. That was soon followed by a three-run homer from Taiwanese captain Chen Chieh-hsien (陳傑憲) to put Taiwan ahead in the prestigious tournament of the world’s top 12 baseball teams. In addition to a superb performance from 21-year-old Arizona Diamondbacks prospect Lin, three more Taiwanese pitchers
Taiwan yesterday advanced to the gold medal match of the World Baseball Softball Confederation’s (WBSC) Premier12 for the first time in history, despite last night losing 9-6 to Japan. Taiwan advanced after the US defeated Venezuela in the first game on the last day of the Super Round. However, the US had no chance of advancing to the championship game unless it defeated Venezuela by at least nine points. The US won 6-5. As a result, the two teams — who both had one win and two losses in the Super Round — are to face off again in the
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電), the world’s biggest contract chipmaker, yesterday held an equipment installation ceremony for its first 2-nanometer fab in Kaohsiung, six months ahead of schedule, Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) said. “To cope with the strong global demand for advanced chips, TSMC is to start moving in equipment for its first-ever 2-nanometer fab half a year earlier than scheduled,” Chen said at an question-and-answer session at the Kaohsiung City Council. TSMC’s 2-nanometer process technology would help accelerate the development of artificial intelligence (AI) applications as well as the transformation of local industries in Kaohsiung, Chen said in a
TEAM TAIWAN: While lawmakers proposed declaring Nov. 24 a national day, the CPBL commissioner urged the legislature to pass the budget for sports development Lawmakers yesterday proposed designating Nov. 24 as National Baseball Day and updating the design of the NT$500 bill to honor the national team’s victory in the World Baseball Softball Confederation’s Premier12 championship on Sunday, as thousands of fans came out to see the players parade down the streets of Taipei. Players, coaches and staff from the national team returned home on Monday night after achieving their best-ever performance in an international baseball tournament. After receiving a rapturous welcome at the airport, the players turned out yesterday for a street parade in front of thousands of adoring fans waving Taiwanese flags and