Cabinet proposes fining those calling for nonpeaceful takeover of Taiwan

Taipei, Dec. 18 (CNA) The Cabinet on Thursday unveiled draft changes to the National Security Act, including fines of up to NT$1 million (US$31,721) for advocating the end of Taiwan's sovereignty through nonpeaceful means.

According to the draft amendment, the fines would be levied on those whose public speech, writing, artwork or digital records call for Taiwan's forcible annexation by a foreign power.

The proposal comes after authorities in March issued deportation notices for three Chinese nationals married to Taiwanese spouses for posting online videos that either advocated or alluded to a potential military takeover of Taiwan by China.

The move sparked public debate over freedom of speech; however, Minister without Portfolio Lin Ming-hsin (林明昕) said Thursday at a Cabinet news conference that the proposal is based on the United Nations' International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which stipulates that "any propaganda for war shall be prohibited by law."

Furthermore, he said, the proposal does not impose any restrictions on one-to-one conversations, whether in person or online, so it should not be deemed an encroachment on freedom of speech.

Depending on the severity of an offense, the Ministry of the Interior may independently or in consultation with relevant agencies order the internet service provider concerned to remove or block such content and delete or limit access of noncompliant user accounts, according to the amendment.

The proposed revision also seeks to lengthen sentences for those who leak state secrets to a "foreign hostile force," its representative, or an entity it controls from five to 12 years to at least seven years, and significantly raise the fine from NT$5 million to 100 million to NT$10 million to 300 million.

Active military personnel found to have contravened the act will see their prison term extended by 1.5 times, according to the draft amendment.

Meanwhile, a proposed amendment to the Criminal Code of the Armed Forces seeks to increase the prison term for active military personnel who surrender to enemies from one to seven years to three to 10 years.

Those who pledge allegiance to enemies through speech, actions, text, pictures or digital records will face a prison term of one to seven years, the draft amendment stipulates.

Active or retired military officers who violate the National Security Act or leak state secrets on the instruction of a foreign hostile force, its representative or an entity it controls will forfeit their pensions upon conviction, with the portions already received recovered, according to another proposed amendment.

The proposals will be sent to the Legislature for review.