TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Taiwan's government will investigate the state-run CSC Corporation, as lawmakers alleged its Chinese sailors could pose a national security risk, reports said Tuesday (Nov. 19).
During a discussion about the 2025 central government budget, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Hung Sun-han (洪申翰) noted that the transportation subsidiaries of state enterprises Taiwan Power Company and CPC Corporation, Taiwan did not employ Chinese sailors, even though their staff counted numerous foreigners, per CNA. He said 20% of employees at China Steel Express Corporation (CSE), a subsidiary of the CSC, were Chinese.
Hung added that National Security Bureau Director-General Tsai Ming-yen (蔡明彥) said in the event of a Taiwan Strait crisis, it is unclear whether those employees would take orders from their employer, the Taiwanese shipping company, or the Chinese government.
Economics Minister Kuo Jyh-huei (郭智輝) replied that he agreed with Hung and would mention the issue to the CSC. Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) added that he wants to see suitable restrictions on the employment of foreign and Chinese staff to safeguard state-run enterprises and national security.
Hung insisted he is not demanding their immediate dismissal, but he wants the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) to present a timetable within two months to explain how it will address the problem.