Who is the biggest espionage threat to the US? It is no longer Russia, the Cold War archenemy, nor the recently fashionable "axis of evil" countries -- Iran, Iraq and North Korea. The rapidly rising China has replaced the Soviet Union as the biggest espionage threat to the US in the past decade.
Among the spies who have emerged in recent years are Larry Chin (
According to an FBI estimate, Beijing has set up more than 3,000 front companies in the US to cover espionage activities. In addition, many of the Chinese students, businessmen and visitors entering the US every year are believed to be on intelligence-gathering missions. For the US, China poses a multi-faceted, all-round threat of infiltration. Chinese spies are not only increasing in number but also gradually expanding the scope of their work to reach the core of the US national security establishment.
On Tuesday, Taiwan's law enforcement authorities exposed a Chinese spy ring. Yeh Chen-yu (
Along with the increase in cross-strait exchanges, Chinese citizens coming to Taiwan as immigrants, businessmen or tourists -- as well as Taiwanese citizens doing the same in China -- can be recruited by Chinese intelligence agencies and become Beijing's spies.
From the recent increase in Chinese spy cases, and from the expanding scope of infiltration into the military and defense research institutions, one can easily see the alarming loopholes in Taiwan's national security. These cases tell us that China is not just Taiwan's top enemy in intelligence security work. Chinese espionage activities have also become the biggest potential threat to American security.
Taiwan has many years of experience in dealing with Chinese spies and has a deep understanding of Beijing's intelligence-gathering strategies and operations. The US has advanced intelligence and counter-intelligence technologies and facilities. Taiwan and the US need to increase their intelligence cooperation to ensure the security of both sides and to stop the harm done by the Chinese spy network to the security of Taiwan, the US, Asia and the world.
Both Taiwan and the US are victims in this most recent case of Chinese espionage. It is not appropriate for the US to restrict the transfer of military technologies or curb weapons sales to Taiwan on account of this case. No side stands to benefit from such an act.
By restricting weapons sales and the transfer of defense technologies, the US will be falling into China's trap -- Beijing has always been trying to sow discord between Taiwan and the US. Taiwan's security will then be seriously harmed, and the US will lose one layer of protection for its defense security. The only beneficiary will be China.
Both Taiwan and the US should take this opportunity to review their intelligence and security systems, find the loopholes and jointly formulate strategies to resolve the threat. This will be the only win-win strategy.
Recently, China launched another diplomatic offensive against Taiwan, improperly linking its “one China principle” with UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 to constrain Taiwan’s diplomatic space. After Taiwan’s presidential election on Jan. 13, China persuaded Nauru to sever diplomatic ties with Taiwan. Nauru cited Resolution 2758 in its declaration of the diplomatic break. Subsequently, during the WHO Executive Board meeting that month, Beijing rallied countries including Venezuela, Zimbabwe, Belarus, Egypt, Nicaragua, Sri Lanka, Laos, Russia, Syria and Pakistan to reiterate the “one China principle” in their statements, and assert that “Resolution 2758 has settled the status of Taiwan” to hinder Taiwan’s
Can US dialogue and cooperation with the communist dictatorship in Beijing help avert a Taiwan Strait crisis? Or is US President Joe Biden playing into Chinese President Xi Jinping’s (習近平) hands? With America preoccupied with the wars in Europe and the Middle East, Biden is seeking better relations with Xi’s regime. The goal is to responsibly manage US-China competition and prevent unintended conflict, thereby hoping to create greater space for the two countries to work together in areas where their interests align. The existing wars have already stretched US military resources thin, and the last thing Biden wants is yet another war.
As Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu’s party won by a landslide in Sunday’s parliamentary election, it is a good time to take another look at recent developments in the Maldivian foreign policy. While Muizzu has been promoting his “Maldives First” policy, the agenda seems to have lost sight of a number of factors. Contemporary Maldivian policy serves as a stark illustration of how a blend of missteps in public posturing, populist agendas and inattentive leadership can lead to diplomatic setbacks and damage a country’s long-term foreign policy priorities. Over the past few months, Maldivian foreign policy has entangled itself in playing
A group of Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers led by the party’s legislative caucus whip Fu Kun-chi (?) are to visit Beijing for four days this week, but some have questioned the timing and purpose of the visit, which demonstrates the KMT caucus’ increasing arrogance. Fu on Wednesday last week confirmed that following an invitation by Beijing, he would lead a group of lawmakers to China from Thursday to Sunday to discuss tourism and agricultural exports, but he refused to say whether they would meet with Chinese officials. That the visit is taking place during the legislative session and in the aftermath