Information she requested from the Ministry of National Defense is not confidential, and people have the right to know, Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Legislator Lin Yi-chun (林憶君) said yesterday in response to questions that she was collecting sensitive data on the operations of critical infrastructure.
Lin on Wednesday invited Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo (顧立雄) and other officials to a meeting with the legislature’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee, of which Lin is convener, to report on the countermeasures against the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s “gray zone” warfare tactics and “anaconda” strategy in terms of key industries, critical infrastructure, energy independence and food security.
An official who requested anonymity told the Liberty Times (sister paper of the Taipei Times) that the legislature mischaracterized the policy to develop a “resilient Taiwan” as cultivating a militia, while systematically collecting relevant data despite explanations from the executive branch.
Photo: Chen Yi-kuan, Taipei Times
“The handling of such data might be beyond the legislative power of oversight,” they added.
Lin yesterday said the administration of President William Lai (賴清德) should be open and transparent with information in its collaboration with civic groups on defense resilience.
The legislature oversees the executive branch to ensure people’s right to know, she said, adding that the official who accused her of intelligence gathering did not even dare to reveal their name.
Lin also said she would have convened a confidential meeting if the data were sensitive.
TPP caucus whip Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) condemned the official for anonymously defaming Lin and opposition parties.
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus secretary-general Rosalia Wu (吳思瑤) yesterday before a DPP caucus meeting told reporters that concerns were raised about Chinese agents who are tasked with collecting intelligence on national security and defense from the executive branch.
The proceedings added up to a “plot” to undermine Taiwan’s whole-of-society defense security, as Lin scheduled the meeting following the draft amendments to the Civil Defense Act (民防法) that had been proposed by Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Hsu Chiao-hsin (徐巧芯), she said.
Therefore, the DPP caucus yesterday took pre-emptive action by motioning a bill to enhance defense of national security, Hsu said, adding she hoped the bill would soon be slated for review.
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