The newly-appointed head of Taiwan’s National Security Bureau, Chen Ming-tong, says he intends to expand the country’s intelligence-gathering capabilities. Chen says these changes are necessary in order to combat hostile external forces, which seek to infiltrate and divide Taiwan via disinformation campaigns. At the same time, Chen plans to implement a new satellite detection system and use big data in order to track sources of disinformation.
In his introduction on the bureau website, Chen says international circumstances are changing. He says that China’s constant incursions into Taiwanese space, the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and polarizing political ideals are all current threats Taiwan must address.
Chen says that external forces are constantly sowing discord in Taiwan, in an effort to divide its people and ruin its democracy. He says the only way to counter such campaigns is to strengthen data collection and interpretation.