TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – National Security Bureau Director-General Tsai Ming-yen (蔡明彥) said Wednesday that he had meetings with counterparts from 45 countries during the year.

Taiwan only maintains official diplomatic relations with 12 countries. Speaking at the Legislative Yuan, Tsai said he had conducted almost 100 bilateral discussions with directors or their deputies from 45 intelligence agencies, per CNA.

The talks informed him of their views on developments in the Indo-Pacific and led to Taiwan strengthening its close strategic cooperation ties to other agencies, he said. Lawmakers showed interest in whether Tsai had had enough close contacts with other countries in the first island chain facing China.

The intelligence chief said that his service improved its understanding of national security planning by friendly nations through their strategic documents. Strategic dialogue and exchanges of intelligence also helped Taiwan monitor relevant trends, he said.

Tsai emphasized the importance of Taiwan improving its self-defense capabilities on the first island chain. If it failed to do so, it would lose the confidence of its allies, the intelligence chief said.