Cabinet members worried that their phones are tapped

The National Security Bureau (NSB) said yesterday it could not find any evidence that the phones of two Cabinet members had been wiretapped.

The bureau's director, Tsai Chao-ming (蔡朝明), said yesterday that Minister of Foreign Affairs Tien Hung-mao (田宏茂) and Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) suspected that their phones had been tapped.

The NSB launched an investigation but found nothing suspicious, Tsai was quoted as saying by a lawmaker on the defense committee of the legislature.

"Both foreign minister Tien and MAC Chairwoman Tsai have reason to suspect their phones are being wiretapped because they handle highly sensitive affairs of the country," the bureau's Tsai said.

He made the remarks yesterday afternoon at a closed-door meeting of the defense committee, which was discussing the bureau's budget for next year.

Tsai Chao-ming revealed the Cabinet members' wiretap suspicions at a breakfast meeting with members of the legislative caucus of the opposition People First Party (PFP).

Also at the meeting were chiefs of the Military Intelligence Bureau, Investigation Bureau, Military Police Command, National Police Administration, Ministry of National Defense and Coast Guard Administration.

The PFP caucus met the chiefs to discuss ways of curbing wiretapping and illegal videotaping.

The concern was sparked by the recent release of a VCD purportedly showing former Taipei City councilor Chu Mei-feng (璩美鳳) having sex with her married lover.

PFP lawmaker Chou Hsi-wei (周錫瑋), who attended the breakfast meeting, quoted NSB director Tsai as saying that wiretapping and illegal videotaping by civilians was getting out of control.

"Tsai denies the possibility that the NSB might be involved in these kinds of activities. But he said Tien and Tsai [Ing-wen] have both sought help from the NSB after they found their phones might have been tapped," Chou said.

"An investigation by the NSB did not find any evidence to sustain the suspicions. Nevertheless, the NSB will establish a counter-wiretapping mechanism to improve the security of communications for government leaders," Chou quoted the bureau's Tsai as saying.

A defense official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the Cabinet members' suspicions could be justified.

The official said that even Chief of the General Staff General Tang Yao-ming (湯曜明) is constantly monitored by the intelligence community for the sake of national security.

"No one knows who is monitoring the military leadership. Their phones are certainly tapped. They know this but have to accept it. It is a necessary evil. No government leader except President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) can be immune to this kind of security check," the official said.