TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s Navy on Monday responded to media reports regarding Naval Meteorological and Oceanographic Office Chief Captain Lin Tsang-yu (林倉玉), confirming that while he violated data security protocols, other accusations against him were unfounded.

The reports, originally published by Mirror Media, alleged Lin committed several violations, including the unauthorized dissemination of classified information and irregularities in budget planning. In response, Defense Minister Wellington Koo (顧立雄) instructed the R.O.C. Navy Command to launch an internal investigation, per UP Media.

KMT Legislator Hsu Chiao-hsin (徐巧芯) referenced the allegations as justification for the opposition’s closer scrutiny of the Ministry of National Defense's 2025 budget proposal, per UDN. She also urged the ministry to address claims related to NMOO’s budgeting practices.

Navy Chief of Staff Vice Admiral Chiu Chun-jung (邱俊榮) said that Mirror Media did not seek comment or verification from the Navy or Lin before publishing the report. He clarified that NMOO had requested NT$1.7 billion (US$55.5 million) for the construction of three buildings and pledged to submit related documentation to members of the Legislative Yuan’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee.

Navy Command acknowledged one confirmed violation: the sharing of information over unencrypted channels, per Liberty Times. However, it emphasized that the data in question was not related to the Han Kuang military exercise.

All other allegations — including budgetary misconduct and violations of dormitory regulations — were deemed unsupported by evidence.

According to Mirror Media, citing unnamed whistleblowers, Lin allegedly instructed subordinates to acquire classified information from other Navy units and shared it via Line messaging groups. He was also accused of facilitating the involvement of a Chinese-funded company in surveillance and reconnaissance missions.

Additional accusations included pressuring staff to acquire Chinese-made unmanned surface vehicles recovered by the Coast Guard for retrofitting, circumventing financial oversight, practicing favoritism, and disregarding internal rules such as gender-separated dormitory arrangements and combat readiness procedures. Lin was also accused of verbally abusing subordinates, leading to declining morale within the NMOO.

When confronted by inspectors about his actions, Lin reportedly said, “It is allowed since I said so.”