NATIONAL SECURITY ACT: The amended law would target those found establishing, financially supporting or directing organizations for the interests of a foreign power
Taipei Times
Date: Jun 20, 2019
By: Hsieh Chun-lin and William Hetherington / Staff reporter, with staff writer
Amendments to the National Security Act (國家安全法) that impose higher sentences and fines on people
Legislative Speaker Su Jia-chyuan bangs his gavel at the Legislative Yuan in Taipei yesterday to mark the passage of amendments to the National Security Act.
Photo: Chu Pei-hsiung, Taipei Times
Those found recruiting others in Taiwan under instructions from the Chinese government would be subject to at least seven years in prison and a fine of up to NT$100 million (US$3.19 million) under the amendments.
Those conducting espionage by using the Internet would also be subject to the new penalties.
People employed by the military, the civil service, state-run enterprises or public-school teachers who are convicted for contravening the act would lose their pension, while those who have already retired and have received pension benefits would be required to return all the funds paid up to the date of their conviction.
Supplementary resolutions on the issues of how to define China, Macau and Hong Kong within the rubric of “hostile foreign forces,” and how to determine whether disseminated communications from people from those regions or other nations constitute a national threat are to be determined during the next legislative session, the Democratic Progressive Party and New Power Party caucuses said. [FULL STORY]
