Defense ministry tackling light national security penalties: KooBy Lin Che-yuan and Sam Garcia / Staff reporter, with staff writerThe Ministry of National Defense is addressing Taiwan’s light sentences for national security contraventions through legal reforms and by improving internal military security, while pushing amendments to the Military Trial Act (軍事審判法), Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo (顧立雄) said today. The ministry has proposed amendments to the Criminal Code of the Armed Forces (陸海空軍刑法) increasing the penalties for expressing “loyalty” to the enemy and for “conspiracy” and “premeditation,” Koo said. Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo speaks to reporters in Taipei today. Photo: Tu Chien-jung, Taipei TimesMilitary personnel involved in an espionage case would also be deprived of their pension rights in accordance with Article 13 of the National Security Act (國家安全法), he said. The military is enhancing internal security through patriotism education to boost awareness, with many cases now uncovered through internal reporting, Koo said.

Source: Taipei Times March 24, 2026 09:36 UTC