Taipei Times: Is it true that the National Security Council consulting members disagree with the mobile management and more direct supervision projects initiated by Kang Ning-hsiang since he took the office?
Su Chin-chiang (
Since the DPP took power, the council has gone through four secretary-generals -- Chuang Ming-yao, (莊銘耀) Ting Yu-chou, (丁瑜洲) Chiou I-jen, (邱義仁) and Kang. In fact, Chuang, the first head after Chen took office, had already brought up the key points for the new council and undertaken system adjustments, but these three predecessors basically allowed those consulting members to develop their duties individually and that is different from Kang's style. It certainly needs time to get used to it.
Some have described the council as unfathomable, saying that its six consulting members have the privilege to talk to the president directly. Therefore, the media has speculated about the council, and some reports about the council are even groundless or made up.
Kang now plans to open the doors and take the initiative to communicating with the outside world, and that is why I have taken the post as the first spokesman for the council to brief the media in light of any national security events, policies and crises. Such a job is a part of the council's crisis-management system.
TT: The Legislative Yuan passed the NSC Organization Law (國安會組織法) in June that allows the council to expand its prescribed number of personnel by 25. How will this affect the role of the council?
Su: Many are surprised that the Legislative Yuan passed the law so fast. In fact, this is a result of Kang's long-term political relationship and influence. He personally lobbied different parties in the Legislative Yuan, including those from the PFP and KMT. I think we all understand that the president needs a complete and efficient back-up team.
The council did not have a specific role in the government during the Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石) and Chiang Ching-kou (蔣經國) era, when it was considered as a political reward for retired senior officials. The council members convened once a year and its responsibility was to discuss the budget. In the latter period of Lee Teng-hui's (李登輝) 13 years tenure as the president, the government started to recruit talent. Now the environment has a more profound change, the responsibility of the council must transform from its individually heroic nature into a consolidated platform. In the past, the NSC was crisis management- and issue-oriented. Now Kang hopes that the council may increase its efficiency and offers the president a comprehensive and overall national security and strategy evaluation.
TT: Kang has brought up his idea of the "security community." Could you elaborate on his plan?
Su: After the council expands its organization, its responsibilities shall include three sectors: the evaluation of national security, overall national strategy and crisis management.
After the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the definition of national security has gone beyond military, politics and diplomacy. Social, cultural and economic sectors are also the elements of national security.
The "National Security Community" was brought up by Kang and the council Deputy Secretary-General Antonio Chiang (江春男) based on the experience of other advanced countries, such as the US. It includes a regular exchange of staff between the Ministry of National Defense and Ministry of Foreign Affairs. That aims to change their relationship that each does things in his own way and to strengthen the communication among the government's national security system, the private think tanks and the media, so as to consolidate the consensus
By doing so, we can avoid mistrust and chaos so as to consolidate the pace of national security teamwork. Especially, each department doing its own business often makes it be defeated one by one by their rival in international occasions and important issues, such as cross-strait negotiations, APEC meetings and military procurements.
TT: Kang said that his only intention is to build the national security platform. Will it supercede the Executive Yuan?
Su: Kang wants to push a communication system among national security officials, scholars and media reporters and that will allow them to exchange their opinions on national security policies and issues so as to strengthen the pace and consensus of the national security teamwork. Chiang has had such a plan in mind for years but yet to be put into practice. Now, he hopes to build this important communication platform. The national security shall not be done individually.
In contrast, Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Defense Ministry used to do their own business, so they often moved at different speeds while dealing with important issues, such as military procurements, and that gives its counterpart a chance to defeat them one by one.
For now, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of National Defense are regularly exchanging their staff with each sending two people to get familiar with each other's business. In the future, we hope the practice will expand to other national security departments.
Taipei has once again made it to the top 100 in Oxford Economics’ Global Cities Index 2025 report, moving up five places from last year to 60. The annual index, which was published last month, evaluated 1,000 of the most populated metropolises based on five indices — economics, human capital, quality of life, environment and governance. New York maintained its top spot this year, placing first in the economics index thanks to the strength of its vibrant financial industry and economic stability. Taipei ranked 263rd in economics, 44th in human capital, 15th in quality of life, 284th for environment and 75th in governance,
The Sports Administration yesterday demanded an apology from the national table tennis association for barring 17-year-old Yeh Yi-tian (葉伊恬) from competing in the upcoming World Table Tennis (WTT) United States Smash tournament in Las Vegas this July. The sports agency said in a statement that the Chinese Taipei Table Tennis Association (CTTTA) must explain to the public why it withdrew Yeh from the WTT tournament in Las Vegas. The sports agency said it contacted the association to express its disapproval of the decision-making process after receiving a complaint from Yeh’s coach, Chuang
Control Yuan Secretary-General Lee Chun-yi (李俊俋) tendered his resignation last night, admitting that he had misused a government vehicle, as reported by media. His resignation was immediately accepted by the Control Yuan. In a statement explaining why he had resigned, Lee apologized for using a Control Yuan vehicle to transport his dog to a pet grooming salon on May 20. The issue first came to light late last month, when TVBS News reported that Lee had instructed his driver to take the dog to the salon. The news channel broadcast photos that it said were taken by an unnamed whistle-blower, which purportedly showed the
A former officer in China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) who witnessed the aftermath of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre has warned that Taiwan could face a similar fate if China attempts to unify the country by force. Li Xiaoming (李曉明), who was deployed to Beijing as a junior officer during the crackdown, said Taiwanese people should study the massacre carefully, because it offers a glimpse of what Beijing is willing to do to suppress dissent. “What happened in Tiananmen Square could happen in Taiwan too,” Li told CNA in a May 22 interview, ahead of the massacre’s 36th anniversary. “If Taiwanese students or