Taiwan's opposition-controlled legislature has repeatedly blocked a package of national security laws aimed at countering Chinese infiltration, which watchdogs call a serious risk to the island's defenses.

• Five national security bills passed by the Cabinet last December have sat unpassed for eight months, blocked 1,297 times in committee over five sessions.
• The bills would tighten rules on the military, veterans, and cross-strait ties to stop Chinese recruitment of soldiers, staff, and officials.
• The Citizen Congress Watch group calls the legislature Taiwan's biggest "fifth column," saying opposition lawmakers are doing China's work while claiming to defend the Republic of China.
• Some opposition lawmakers argue the proposed penalties for spying and leaking secrets are too harsh and want them cut.
• The worry is that this signals to Washington and Tokyo that Taiwan does not care about its own defense, and tells Beijing an invasion could succeed.

Outlook: The bills look set to stay stuck unless the political balance in the legislature shifts, leaving Taiwan's counter-infiltration laws unchanged for now.