TSU names 11 as security threats

The TSU held a news conference yesterday to accuse 11 former senior officials, including two past chairmen of the National Science Council (NSC, 國科會) of working illegally for Chinese companies.

Ex-civil servants may not serve in Chinese organizations without the government's permission. Officials whose jobs involved defense, technology, intelligence and other national development and security issues can't visit China without the government's permission within three years of leaving office.

TSU legislator Liao Pen-yen (廖本煙) told the Taipei Times that some former officials who had played important policy-making roles receive remuneration and benefits from jobs on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

He said, "They have shared knowledge of Taiwanese industry with the Chinese side and they should be punished for that."

Liao also called on the NSC and other agencies to monitor such officials and "stop them from leaving for other countries if necessary" to prevent them from "leaking national secrets."

The TSU accused Liu Chao-shiuan, a former NSC chairman and vice premier, of regularly "shuttling across the Taiwan Strait."

Liu rejected the charge yesterday, saying the allegation was based on an erroneous report in the China Times that the newspaper had admitted was wrong.

The paper had reported that Liu, as a founder of the Monte Jade Science and Technology Association of Taiwan (台灣玉山科技協會), had gone to China to seek investment opportunities.

Liu said that he had visited China to take part in a forum hosted by Taiwanese businessmen and that the event had nothing to do with investment activities. He said the association is a private group of professionals from the high-tech industry, whose purpose is to exchange information and opinions.

Also named in the TSU list were Steve Hsieh (薛香川), who once headed the NSC and the Hsinchu Science-based Industrial Park Administration, and Yang Shih-chien (楊世緘), a former vice minister of economic affairs.

KMT spokesman Justin Chou (周守訓) yesterday dismissed the allegations as "ridiculous" and urged the TSU to stop making "unfounded allegations."

"People should not get a bad name just because they have been to China," he said. "Think how many people have been to China. Even Minister of Economic Affairs Christine Tsung (宗才怡) ... has been to China."

Liu also highlighted what he called the "absurdity" of the TSU's list by pointing out that Shu Hsien-hsiu (徐賢修), who was alleged to be planning a science and technology park in Beijing, is in fact dead.

The Mainland Affairs Council's deputy director for legal affairs, Yang Chia-chun (楊家駿), said that former officials who are found to have served Chinese companies, "have violated regulations and will be dealt with in the appropriate manner."

People who serve in Chinese agencies without permission could be fined between NT$100,000 and NT$500,000.