The Executive Yuan yesterday approved amendments that would eliminate a requirement to keep political files and national security information permanently confidential.

When political files are categorized as classified national security information, the content should be declassified after 40 years, the amendments state.

The amendments to the Political Archives Act (政治檔案條例) and the Classified National Security Information Protection Act (國家機密保護法) are part of government efforts to pursue transitional justice on behalf of those who were politically persecuted following the 228 Incident in 1947 and during the Martial Law era from 1949 to 1987.