The National Security Bureau (NSB) yesterday in a report to the legislature singled out foreign spies in Taiwan as a potential threat to national security.
"Intelligence information shows that of the 426,000 foreign nationals on the island, quite a few are engaged in gathering information on Taiwan," NSB deputy director Han Kun said.
"Generally speaking, these [spies] are interested in information mainly about local politics, cross-strait relations, the nuclear power plant controversy and the stock market," Han said.
Han called attention to the potential threat as he delivered a work report to the organic laws committee of the legislature on the security bureau's efforts to safeguard national security.
Han made the report on behalf of NSB director General Ting Yu-chou (丁渝洲). The general could not give the report himself because he was attending a closed-door session of the legislature's defense committee, which was taking place at the same time.
In his report, Han pointed out four major sources of potential threat to the national security, which include, in order of significance, China's continuous efforts to infiltrate Taiwan, the would-be opening of Taiwan to Chinese nationals and products, foreign spies in Taiwan, and the leak of national secrets by government officials.
A senior intelligence official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said foreign spies and leaks of national secrets pose an increasing threat to national security and that it is necessary to alert the public to it.
"The most active foreign spies in Taiwan come from two friendly countries. Their spies used to collect information on Taiwan under covert identities such as missionaries, students, language teachers and travelers," the official said.
"But in recent years, intelligence agents from those two countries have become more daring and they sometimes do not even hide their strong desire to know more and more about Taiwan, including the people and the government," he said.
"The situation may develop to an extent that it might harm the country. Some government officials, for instance, do not know how to keep their mouths shut about inside information about the government's operation while talking or dining with foreign friends," he said.
"Some people might think we are crying wolf. But it is important to make government officials aware of the intensifying foreign intelligence activities in Taiwan so that if they are disciplined for compromising national secrets, they should remember they have been warned before," he added.
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) yesterday said it expected to issue a sea warning for Typhoon Fung-Wong tomorrow, which it said would possibly make landfall near central Taiwan. As of 2am yesterday, Fung-Wong was about 1,760km southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost point, moving west-northwest at 26kph. It is forecast to reach Luzon in the northern Philippines by tomorrow, the CWA said. After entering the South China Sea, Typhoon Fung-Wong is likely to turn northward toward Taiwan, CWA forecaster Chang Chun-yao (張峻堯) said, adding that it would likely make landfall near central Taiwan. The CWA expects to issue a land
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The Central Weather Administration (CWA) yesterday issued a sea alert for Typhoon Fung-wong (鳳凰) as it threatened vessels operating in waters off the Pratas Islands (Dongsha Islands, 東沙群島), the Bashi Channel and south of the Taiwan Strait. A land alert is expected to be announced some time between late last night and early this morning, the CWA said. As of press time last night, Taoyuan, as well as Yilan, Hualien and Penghu counties had declared today a typhoon day, canceling work and classes. Except for a few select districts in Taipei and New Taipei City, all other areas and city
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