TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s defense ministry said on Wednesday it would investigate allegations of “pressure” after an Institute for National Defense and Security Research employee said she was told not to pursue a sexual harassment claim against her boss.

Taiwan’s China Times reported on Wednesday that an employee of the military think tank accused its former Executive Director Lee Wen-chung (李文忠) of continuously sending her inappropriate text messages. The employee claimed staff from the institute and the defense ministry told her not to pursue a sexual harassment complaint about Lee, downplayed the issue, and launched a smear campaign against her.

The defense ministry issued a statement in response to the report that said a staff member suspected of “pressuring” others had been transferred from their supervisory position. It said the matter is awaiting investigation from a dedicated team. 

The ministry also said it asked subordinate agencies to protect staff involved in gender equality incidents. “Regarding allegations that internal personnel ‘interfered with the gender equality investigation process’, the Ministry of National Defense has once again asked the institute to abide by the principles of objectivity, fairness, and professionalism when handling sexual harassment investigations,” the statement said.

The defense ministry established the Institute for National Defense and Security Research in 2018. The ministry appoints the institute's board of directors and supervisors who appoint an executive director, according to the institute's most recent financial filing.