The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ (MOFA) Department of European Affairs said yesterday it did not know the extent of any classified information that was allegedly disclosed in a book recently published by Taiwan’s former representative to Switzerland, Rex Wang (王世榕).
The ministry had previously said that Wang would be investigated for possibly leaking classified information.
Wang served as Taiwan’s top diplomat to Switzerland from 2002 until last year. His memoir, Straight Talk (直言), touches on the challenges and details of his life in that job.
The ministry alleges that Wang disclosed secret information about Taiwan’s diplomatic efforts in Switzerland, including its bids to attend the World Health Assembly and reciprocal recognition of drivers’ licenses.
Acting ministry spokesman James Chang (章計平) said the ministry was looking into the matter and that it would be handled “appropriately.”
Department of European Affairs Director-General Anne Hung (洪慧珠) said the department had yet to finish going through the book, so she did not know what, if any, classified information had been leaked.
Chang said the ministry had not contacted Wang and refused to confirm whether it had plans to meet him.
Wang has said that several people had asked if the contents of his book would cause him trouble and he had told them: “I asked colleagues at the ministry and my attorney to look at it and we all thought it would be fine.”
Minister of Foreign Affairs Francisco Ou (歐鴻鍊) had previously said the ministry would take legal action against Wang if its internal investigation determined that Wang had broken confidentiality laws.
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