Four teams are to be assembled to provide security for candidates in the presidential election scheduled for Jan. 13 next year, National Security Bureau (NSB) Director-General Tsai Ming-yen (蔡明彥) said yesterday.
Tsai told a question-and-answer session in the Legislative Yuan that the teams would be comprised of 250 special agents.
Three teams would from November act as security details to presidential and vice presidential candidates, while the fourth team would be kept in reserve, Tsai said.
Photo: CNA
Security personnel is already assigned to protect Vice President William Lai (賴清德), who is running for president for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), so there is no need to assign members of the to-be-formed teams to protect him, Tsai said.
The teams would begin a five-month training program in June, Tsai said, adding that it would cover handling attacks involving drones and explosives.
Tsai informed lawmakers about the measures the bureau is taking in preparation for the presidential election, including countering Chinese attempts to interfere in it.
On the sidelines of the legislative hearing, Tsai told reporters that the bureau was closely monitoring Beijing’s efforts to meddle in the election via military and economic coercion and by spreading disinformation.
In the presidential race, Lai is expected to face Taiwan People’s Party Chairman and former Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲), and a candidate to be nominated by the main opposition Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT).
New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜) is reportedly the KMT’s top choice, while Hon Hai Precision Industry Co founder Terry Gou (郭台銘) has also expressed an interest in securing the KMT nomination.
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