Print

Mail

wiki links

KMT legislator calls for national security briefing

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Chang Hsien-yao (張顯耀) called on government agencies on Friday to brief president-elect Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) on the nation’s security situation and challenges.

Chang, a former National Security Council (NSC) official, said that Ma, who will assume office on May 20, “might not have firsthand information on national security or cross-strait issues.”

Chang’s remarks came after former NSC secretary-general Ting Yu-chou (丁渝洲) criticized Ma for “not being ready to take up his post.”

Ting said that since his election on March 22, Ma has talked a lot about matters with which he is not very familiar, which could have created the impression that he is “too complacent.”

Ting said that Ma’s remarks on issues on which he is not well versed highlighted a “lack of prudence and careful consideration,” citing Ma’s July timetable for implementing cross-strait charter flights, adding that in his view it was improper to have given a definite date.

Chang said that Ting’s remarks should be seen as “a helpful suggestion, rather than criticism.” Ting was head of the National Security Bureau (NSB) between 1999 and 2001 and NSC secretary-general between 2001 and 2002 and has solid experience in “cross-strait relations and national security,” Chang said.

Chang said Ting believed that national security officials had failed to provide Ma with thorough and detailed briefings, which he said are crucial in preparing the president-elect for the job.

Chang called on the NSC, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of National Defense, the NSB and the Mainland Affairs Council to brief Ma as soon as possible.
This story has been viewed 848 times.