Taiwan probes alleged leak of classified reports, diplomatic cables

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Taiwan is investigating a possible leak of official documents including diplomatic cables and classified reports on the island's sensitive bid to join a global trade pact, according to two officials familiar with the probe. One official said initial findings showed some parts of the documents, posted on online message board 8kun and reviewed by Reuters, are real while bits were forged, without giving details. A second official said parts of the documents appeared to be «authentic» and they could not immediately determine the origin of the documents shared on the internet.

The officials asked not to be identified due to the sensitivity of the matter. Taiwan's National Security Bureau (NSB) confirmed the investigation into «suspected government documents» recently posted online. «It has been noted that suspected government documents have recently circulated on the internet, and relevant units are investigating and dealing with the source of such information,» NSB said in response to a request from Reuters for comment.

The NSB said it was also investigating whether China, which claims Taiwan as its own, was involved in the incident. China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The incident comes at a delicate time for the island, which is due to hold elections early next year and is seeking to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) trade pact despite objections from China which is also seeking to join.