TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) inspected the National Archives Administration (國家發展委員會檔案管理局) on Monday (July 15) to review the progress of political document declassification. He noted that 99.96% of the archives have been declassified, with ongoing efforts to continue this work.
Lin Chiu-yen (林秋燕), the director of the National Archives Administration, reported that only 26 files remain classified. Lin added that 8 cases comprising 4,556 files are under permanent confidentiality, and agencies must respond by Aug. 27 regarding their declassification status.
Lin explained that files still considered sources of national security information will be declassified after 40 years unless extended by the National Security Council (國安會) under specific conditions. Each extension cannot exceed three years.
Cho highlighted Taiwan's history, noting that Monday marks the anniversary of the lifting of martial law, with May 19 designated as White Terror Memorial Day (白色恐怖紀念日). He quoted French writer Milan Kundera, stating that the struggle of man against power is the struggle of memory against forgetting.
Cho emphasized Taiwan's journey from authoritarianism to democracy, aiming to present historical truths for future generations to judge the competition between democracy and dictatorship. He praised the efficiency of the National Archives Administration, noting a rapid increase in declassified documents from 96% to 99.96%.
He stressed the importance of declassification as a responsibility to history, individuals, and families, promising continued efforts. Cho mentioned that files concerning national security or foreign relations would be declassified more efficiently, with relevant individuals notified and information appropriately disclosed to the public.
Cho concluded that democracy and justice require a collective effort to be maintained and advanced through generations and reforms.