The Military Intelligence Bureau (MIB) yesterday reiterated denials that any Taiwanese agents had been arrested in China as a result of information revealed by President Chen Shui-bian (
The pro-China Hong Kong newspaper Ming Pao has reported that China has been able to trace a Taiwanese spy ring after Chen gave details about the number and location of the 496 missiles China has deployed against Taiwan.
Taiwanese businessmen had been arrested, the report said.
The MIB said, however, that no arrests of Taiwan's intelligence workers had been discovered as of yesterday after extensive checking.
The bureau also said in a press release: "The military expresses its regret concerning Taiwanese media's extensive citing of a pro-China newspaper in disseminating unauthenticated information, which has created fear and unease among the people and the families of intelligence agents."
The MIB said since studies regarding China's military development and deployments have become major research topics among governmental, industrial and academic agencies worldwide, the kind of missile information Chen had mentioned could easily be obtained through ordinary channels.
Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Chen Chung-hsin (
Chen referred to Chinese-language newspaper reports about former New Party legislator Elmer Fung (
Although Fung, widely characterized as an unofficial spokesman for China in Taiwan, is well connected in Beijing, he has been an unreliable source of information, only this year being successfully sued for libel by the wife of former president Lee Teng-hui (
Major-General Chen Hu-men (
Chen Chung-hsin pointed out Chen Hu-men's remarks contradicted Fung's claimed evidence since families are given no notice of arrest, only conviction. He also cast doubts on Chen Hu-men's ability to obtain information on the status of intelligence agents, saying "Chen left the intelligence network years ago."
There was no way he should have access to information about current intelligence operations, the legislator said.
"We strongly suspect that there are people doing political maneuvering behind the incident," he said.
DPP legislator Lai Ching-te (
Lai said that Chang served as a secret envoy representing KMT Chairman Lien Chan (
Presidential Office Secretary-General Chiou I-jen (
"According to common practice in intelligence work, it requires at least four to five years to crack an enemy intelligence ring," Chiou said.
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