TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The military has introduced a new classification policy for confidential information as part of its efforts to strengthen counterintelligence measures.
The policy requires official documents and reports to have a classification level, per CNA. The document must be reviewed and labeled section by section, and each paragraph within the text also needs to be labeled.
The five categories are: “Unclassified,” “Confidential,” “Secret,” “Top Secret,” and “Absolute Top Secret.”
If any line of text is deemed confidential, then the entire document must be handled and managed according to the highest classification level contained in the text.
The defense ministry said it will conduct audits and verification. If personnel are found to have used instant messaging applications in violation of regulations or breached confidentiality, a review will be held, and penalties imposed in accordance with disciplinary rules, the ministry said, adding that serious cases will be referred for prosecution.
David Hsu (徐國楨), deputy director of the Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau, recently highlighted the severity of Chinese espionage in Taiwan. The majority of Taiwanese who spy for China are retired or active-duty service members, Hsu said, and are typically groomed before being given orders.
Though he said the problem was “quite serious,” the deputy director believed it could be addressed with Taiwan’s “strong interagency cooperation and strong capacities.”
In March, President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) introduced 17 strategies to combat Chinese espionage in Taiwan. Some of the measures include restoring the military court system, improving risk management for Chinese visitors to Taiwan, and strengthening legal frameworks.
