‘FIRST OF MANY’: The draft bill, which seeks to sanitize investment in defense manufacturers, would be the start to more efforts to curb China’s influence, a lawmaker said

Taipei Times
Date: Oct 25, 2020
By: Huang Hsin-po and Jake Chung / Staff reporter, with staff writer

Taiwan Statebuilding Party and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers have jointly proposed a draft amendment to prevent Chinese or other malign forces from infiltrating companies in the national defense industry.

The proposed amendment would add two clauses to articles 4 and 21 of the National Defense Industry Development Act (國防產業發展條例) which was passed in June last year.

The act places restrictions on defense manufacturers to safeguard national security, but has failed to address regulations regarding company ownerships, Taiwan Statebuilding Party Legislator Chen Po-wei (陳柏惟) said.

This leaves a loophole for foreign forces with hostile intent, or other agents, to infiltrate the industry under the guise of foreign investment, he said.    [FULL  STORY]