Taiwanese authorities have detained an army officer and several collaborators on suspicion of passing military secrets to China.
On Wednesday, the defense ministry revealed that a lieutenant colonel with the last name Hsieh and other defendants were thought to have been recruited by China to leak classified information on the national defense and other sensitive material.
Taiwan's Military Secrets Potentially Leaked to China
As tensions between China and Taiwan escalate, China claims sovereignty over self-governing Taiwan and has persistently attempted to recruit retired Taiwanese military personnel to obtain state secrets in exchange for financial incentives or gifts, according to Business Mirror.
The Taipei Times reported that Hsieh is also accused of setting up a spy network with active-duty and retired military members charged with gathering intelligence for China. In response to the case, the defense ministry issued a statement expressing sadness and severe condemnation for those involved in betraying the country and its people.
A retired army major and three other individuals were also questioned in connection with the investigation and subsequently released on bail, with amounts ranging from 20,000 to 600,000 New Taiwan Dollars.
This is not the first instance of espionage suspicions involving China and Taiwan. Last month, Taiwanese authorities detained five people, including a Chinese yo-yo instructor, on similar suspicions of spying for China, as per South China Morning Post.
Deputy Secretary-General Calls for Vigilance, Investigation
Huang Chung-yen, the deputy secretary-general to the Presidential Office, described the case as shameful and called for a thorough investigation and resolution. He emphasized the need for government agencies and the national security bureau to enhance security operations to prevent such incidents in the future.
In October 2020, a retired Taiwanese lieutenant colonel received a four-year prison sentence for spying for Beijing. He was found guilty of attempting to build a spy network and recruit another lieutenant colonel, who was not charged as he cooperated with authorities and surrendered the money he had received.
As espionage activities between Taiwan and China continue to escalate, both countries have ramped up their efforts to counter such threats to their national security. In a significant move, China launched a special operation named "Thunder 2020," which aimed to address espionage concerns and target individuals suspected of spying on behalf of Taiwan.
According to Chinese authorities, the operation boasted the uncovering of numerous cases involving alleged Taiwanese spies, resulting in the apprehension and detention of these individuals.
To underscore the success of the operation and to serve as a deterrent, Taiwanese media aired confessions made by some of the detained Taiwanese nationals while they were in mainland China custody.
The "Thunder 2020" operation sent a clear message that China was resolute in addressing espionage concerns and protecting its state secrets. However, the operation also triggered a ripple effect in Taiwan, prompting the authorities to take action on their side, Inquirer reported
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