Taiwan’s military has committed to intensifying its counter-espionage operations amid ongoing investigations into several active and former military officers suspected of spying for China. This decision comes in response to China’s sustained espionage campaign aiming to undermine Taiwan’s military and civilian leadership.
Key Points:
- A lieutenant colonel named Hsiao, based in the army’s Aviation and Special Forces Command, has been detained on suspicion of leaking defense secrets to China and allegedly establishing organizations within Taiwan.
- Alongside Hsiao, four retired military officers and a “middleman” are also under investigation, with investigators having searched the Command headquarters in Taoyuan.
- The defense ministry stated it has collected “concrete evidence” of illegal activities and pledged to enhance counter-espionage education and awareness. The crime was strongly condemned as a “selling out” of the country and its people.
- Deputy Secretary-General to the Presidential Office, Alex Huang, called the incident “shameless” and emphasized the need for stringent law enforcement against such betrayals.
- Over the past decade, at least 21 serving or retired Taiwanese officers with the rank of captain or above have been convicted of spying for China, based on a Reuters review of court records and reports from Taiwan’s official news agencies.
