The government may establish a National Security Administration (NSA,
Although President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) has criticized local media for partaking in groundless speculation about the integration of Taiwan's intelligence and security agencies, Chai yesterday confirmed that a major overhaul of those agencies is in the works.
According to Chai, the government is studying the possibility of abolishing the Military Intelligence Bureau under the Ministry of National Defense by the end of the year -- because of the downsizing of the armed forces and the decrease of military budgets.
The government may also abolish the National Security Bureau (NSB) under the Presidential Office and the Investigation Bureau under the Ministry of Justice.
The three agencies are expected to be merged into the new security administration within a year or two, Chai said in a press release yesterday.
According to Chai, top intelligence and security officials have told him that the nation's intelligence and security organs are facing a serious crisis of confidence.
Meanwhile, the monitoring mechanisms for these agencies are also problematic, making it necessary to overhaul the intelligence and security systems.
Taiwan's intelligence systems have been severely challenged by a number of cases, such as the defections of former military officer Justin Lin (林毅夫), former NSB chief cashier Liu Kuan-chun (劉冠軍) and former NSB personnel department chief Pan Hsi-hsien (潘希賢).
"Under the circumstances, it is imperative to reform and integrate Taiwan's intelligence and security agencies," Chai said.
"Hopefully, the ruling and opposition camps can reach a consensus [on the reforms], so that a loyal, fresh and efficient national intelligence and security system can be built," he added.
However, he said that the above reform plans have not been finalized and that there is also a possibility for the government to upgrade the NSB to a Cabinet-level agency -- instead of establishing a new security administration. In that case, both the Military Intelligence Bureau and Investigation Bureau will be merged into the NSB.
The NSB was established on March 1, 1955. The Organization Law of the NSB (
The NSB is authorized to counsel, coordinate and support government agencies in their handling of security matters. The related agencies are the Military Intelligence Bureau, the Investigation Bureau, the Coast Guard Administration, the Armed Forced Police Command and the National Police Administration.
Chai has also suggested that the government amend the organization laws of these agencies, so they can better cooperate with either an upgraded NSB or the new security administration.
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