Taipei Times
Date: Apr 01, 2017
By: Alison Hsiao / Staff reporter

The legislature yesterday passed an amendment to the Republic of China Veterans Assistance Act (國軍退除役官兵輔導條例) that extends the penalties for those convicted of spying, breaching national security and leaking classified information.

The act had stipulated that those who are “sentenced for rebellion, treason, corruption or homicide shall be permanently deprived of all the privileges and benefits,” while the amendment extends the penalty of permanent deprivation to those found guilty of espionage.

The amended act states that permanent deprivation of all privileges and benefits granted by the state to veterans is to be instituted if they are convicted of leaking national secrets in accordance with the National Security Act (國家安全法) and the Classified National Security Information Protection Act (國家機密保護法).

Yesterday’s passage of the amendment followed November last year’s amendments of the Act of Military Service for Officers and Noncommissioned Officers of the Armed Forces (陸海空軍軍官士官服役條例) that stipulated military officers would be deprived of their pensions not only for rebellion and treason, but also for spying, breaching national security and leaking classified information.    [FULL  STORY]