TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — National Security Council Deputy Secretary-General Hsu Szu-chien (徐斯儉) on Thursday dismissed calls to live-stream an upcoming security briefing, citing the sensitive nature of national defense issues.
The proposal to make parts of the briefing public emerged after President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) announced Tuesday that the government would organize a security briefing with opposition leaders to encourage dialogue, per CNA. On Wednesday, TPP Chair Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) requested that, excluding sensitive content, the remainder of the briefing be live-streamed.
During a legislative committee session, DPP Legislator Wu Szu-yao (吳思瑤) asked Hsu whether such a request was feasible. Hsu responded that the subjects of the briefing, including defense strategy and grey-zone conflicts, involved classified information and could not be publicly disclosed.
Hsu commented that if the information were suitable for the public, it would not require a security briefing to communicate. Wu criticized Huang’s proposal, accusing him of attempting to undermine Lai’s effort at bipartisan outreach.
In response, Huang emphasized that his live-streaming request applied only to non-sensitive portions of the briefing, per ETtoday. He argued that transparency and mutual exchange were essential, saying the public should be informed about key discussions between Lai and opposition leaders.
KMT Chair Eric Chu (朱立倫) confirmed he received the invitation to attend the briefing on Wednesday, per SETN.
National Security Bureau Director-General Tsai Ming-yen (蔡明彥) noted that the purpose of the briefing is to build a shared understanding of Taiwan’s national security threats, per CNA. While elected officials are not bound by the same classification restrictions as civil servants, Tsai cautioned that any leaks could still be punishable, per Newtalk.
Despite the administration’s intentions, scholars questioned whether the briefing could yield constructive dialogue amid heightened political tensions, particularly the ongoing recall campaigns against the opposition, per RTI.
Tunghai University Political Science Professor Chang Chun-hao (張峻豪) said that while Lai’s DPP holds a minority in the legislature, national security offers a rare area where he could demonstrate leadership. Chang argued that Lai’s move repositions him in the political arena and compels the opposition to respond.
Chinese Culture University Professor Niu Tse-hsun (鈕則勳) echoed the view, warning that without mutual goodwill, the briefing could be seen as a political ploy. Niu added that the opposition, often branded as pro-China, risks being portrayed as obstructionist if they raise objections to the presented materials.
Both scholars agreed that for the briefing to be meaningful, its scope and objectives must be clearly defined. Otherwise, it may devolve into symbolic politics rather than substantive engagement.
