Investigation bureau agents yesterday raided the homes of two — one active and one retired — air force pilots allegedly recruited by a Chinese intelligence officer in a case described as the largest Chinese spy ring to have operated in Taiwan in recent years.
A preliminary investigation showed that a retired deputy commander of the Republic of China’s Air Force Academy’s flight training section surnamed Ke (葛) had been offered free trips to Southeast Asia by Zhen Xiaojiang (鎮小江), a Chinese intelligence officer, in exchange for confidential military information, the Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office said.
The trips took place between 2009 and 2013 before Ke’s retirement.
Photo: Liao Chen-huei, Taipei Times
“During that period, Ke provided confidential air force intelligence information to other Chinese intelligence officers introduced by Zhen at places outside of Taiwan and China,” prosecutors said.
Following his retirement, Ke persuaded his former colleague, a lieutenant colonel surnamed Lou (樓) who is the deputy director of the flight training section, to join the spy network set up by Zhen in Taiwan, they said.
Ke and Lou were brought in for questioning yesterday on suspicion of violating the National Security Act (國家安全法). Three witnesses were also present.
Zhen, a former People’s Liberation Army officer, was arrested in Taiwan in September last year.
He is accused of offering several retired Taiwanese military officers trips to Vietnam, Thailand, South Korea and Japan.
He also allegedly arranged many dinner meetings between the military officers and Chinese intelligence personnel outside of Taiwan, during which the latter obtained information on the Mirage 2000 aircraft, the ultra-high-frequency radar installation on Leshan (樂山) in Hsinchu County and on Taiwan’s advanced military technology and newly procured weaponry.
Zhen was indicted in January, along with five Taiwanese military officers — including former army major general Hsu Nai-chuan (許乃權), air force colonel Chou Chih-li (周自立), air force pilot Sung Chia-lu (宋嘉祿) and air force official Yang Jung-hua (楊榮華), — and Lee Huan-yu (李寰宇), a Kaohsiung nightclub operator.
The case is being tried at the Taipei District Court.
Prosecutors said Zhen is the first Chinese spy to be arrested in Taiwan in recent years, adding that his espionage ring is believed to include more than 10 Taiwanese military officers.
Ministry of National Defense spokesman Major General David Lo (羅紹和) told an impromptu press conference yesterday that the ministry would fully cooperate with prosecutors in the investigation.
He refused to comment on the probe, citing confidentiality.
“Given that the case revolving around Zhen originated from a tipoff received by the ministry’s public security division, it indicates the effectiveness of the army’s national security endeavors,” Lo said, adding that the ministry would step up its efforts to instill patriotism in soldiers.
TRAGEDY STRIKES TAIPEI: The suspect died after falling off a building after he threw smoke grenades into Taipei Main Station and went on a killing spree in Zhongshan A 27-year-old suspect allegedly threw smoke grenades in Taipei Main Station and then proceeded to Zhongshan MRT Station in a random killing spree that resulted in the death of the suspect and two other civilians, and seven injured, including one in critical condition, as of press time last night. The suspect, identified as a man surnamed Chang Wen (張文), allegedly began the attack at Taipei Main Station, the Taipei Fire Department said, adding that it received a report at 5:24pm that smoke grenades had been thrown in the station. One man in his 50s was rushed to hospital after a cardiac arrest
A car bomb killed a senior Russian general in southern Moscow yesterday morning, the latest high-profile army figure to be blown up in a blast that came just hours after Russian and Ukrainian delegates held separate talks in Miami on a plan to end the war. Kyiv has not commented on the incident, but Russian investigators said they were probing whether the blast was “linked” to “Ukrainian special forces.” The attack was similar to other assassinations of generals and pro-war figures that have either been claimed, or are widely believed to have been orchestrated, by Ukraine. Russian Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov, 56, head
SAFETY FIRST: Double the number of police were deployed at the Taipei Marathon, while other cities released plans to bolster public event safety Authorities across Taiwan have stepped up security measures ahead of Christmas and New Year events, following a knife and smoke bomb attack in Taipei on Friday that left four people dead and 11 injured. In a bid to prevent potential copycat incidents, police deployments have been expanded for large gatherings, transport hubs, and other crowded public spaces, according to official statements from police and city authorities. Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said the city has “comprehensively raised security readiness” in crowded areas, increased police deployments with armed officers, and intensified patrols during weekends and nighttime hours. For large-scale events, security checkpoints and explosives
PUBLIC SAFETY: The premier said that security would be tightened in transport hubs, while President Lai commended the public for their bravery The government is to deploy more police, including rapid response units, in crowded public areas to ensure a swift response to any threats, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday after a knife attack killed three people and injured 11 in Taipei the previous day. Lai made the remarks following a briefing by the National Police Agency on the progress of the investigation, saying that the attack underscored the importance of cooperation in public security between the central and local governments. The attack unfolded in the early evening on Friday around Taipei Main Station’s M7 exit and later near the Taipei MRT’s Zhongshan
RSS