Taiwan's health ministry is pushing back on plans to publish sex offenders' names and photos, warning it could expose victims — a setback for lawmakers demanding tougher punishment.

• Lawmakers want offenders' photos and names made public so people can protect themselves.
• The health ministry says most attacks come from someone the victim knows, so naming the attacker can identify the victim too.
• Only offenders judged likely to reoffend are named now, and the ministry wants to keep it that way.
• Some lawmakers also want chemical castration for people who abuse children, pointing to South Korea, the U.S. and Europe.
• Taiwan sees about 1,000 sexual assault cases a year involving children under 12.

Outlook: The health ministry is punting the castration and flogging questions to the justice ministry, so any change to the law is still some way off.