Judges yesterday approved a request by the New Taipei City District Prosecutors’ Office to detain incommunicado a retired lieutenant colonel who worked at the Ministry of National Defense’s secretive Communication Development Office, one of four former military officers under investigation for espionage.
Investigators on Monday raided a number of offices and residences in New Taipei City and detained two retired lieutenant colonels, surnamed Lin (林) and Pien (邊), for questioning as suspects.
The prosecutors said Lin and Pien, who worked in highly sensitive military offices, were recruited by Chinese agents, and that both were found to have contact with China after their retirement.
Photo: Peter Lo, Taipei Times
New Taipei City Deputy Chief Prosecutor Chou Huai-lien (周懷廉) said Lin worked at the Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology’s Systems Manufacturing Center, while Pien worked at the Communication Development Office, which is tasked with surveillance of China’s military activities, including monitoring of telecommunications signals.
The men had been under surveillance for some time, Chou said, adding that authorities have sufficient evidence to charge them with violations of the National Security Act (國家安全法), including traveling to China to meet with a Chinese People’s Liberation Army major general surnamed Wang (王), who is in charge of intelligence gathering and espionage operations against Taiwan.
Lin, Pien and other retired military officials who worked at sensitive defense facilities and intelligence agencies have been targets for recruitment by Chinese operatives, Chou said.
Photo: Liu Hsin-de, Taipei Times
The investigation reportedly found that the two passed sensitive material to Wang from 2010 to last year in exchange for financial rewards.
They were also allegedly tasked with recruiting friends and other officers to develop spy networks to gather intelligence for China, Chou said.
Among those recruited were two air force colonels, surnamed Fan (范) and Yu (游), who were also taken in for questioning as witnesses.
Judges approved a request to detain Pien incommunicado, citing the likelihood of him attempting to flee the nation, collude with confederates or tamper with evidence, Chou said, adding that Lin was yesterday released following questioning after posting bail of NT$100,000.
Ministry spokesman Major General Chen Chung-chi (陳中吉) said the ministry does not know the full extent of leaked information, but added that the damage was limited.
“Once personnel retire, the ministry is unable to monitor their every movement and trips overseas,” Chen said. “We are checking with other agencies regarding this case and will assess the extent of their espionage.”
SECURITY: As China is ‘reshaping’ Hong Kong’s population, Taiwan must raise the eligibility threshold for applications from Hong Kongers, Chiu Chui-cheng said When Hong Kong and Macau citizens apply for residency in Taiwan, it would be under a new category that includes a “national security observation period,” Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) said yesterday. President William Lai (賴清德) on March 13 announced 17 strategies to counter China’s aggression toward Taiwan, including incorporating national security considerations into the review process for residency applications from Hong Kong and Macau citizens. The situation in Hong Kong is constantly changing, Chiu said to media yesterday on the sidelines of the Taipei Technology Run hosted by the Taipei Neihu Technology Park Development Association. With
CARROT AND STICK: While unrelenting in its military threats, China attracted nearly 40,000 Taiwanese to over 400 business events last year Nearly 40,000 Taiwanese last year joined industry events in China, such as conferences and trade fairs, supported by the Chinese government, a study showed yesterday, as Beijing ramps up a charm offensive toward Taipei alongside military pressure. China has long taken a carrot-and-stick approach to Taiwan, threatening it with the prospect of military action while reaching out to those it believes are amenable to Beijing’s point of view. Taiwanese security officials are wary of what they see as Beijing’s influence campaigns to sway public opinion after Taipei and Beijing gradually resumed travel links halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the scale of
A US Marine Corps regiment equipped with Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) is set to participate in the upcoming Balikatan 25 exercise in the Luzon Strait, marking the system’s first-ever deployment in the Philippines. US and Philippine officials have separately confirmed that the Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) — the mobile launch platform for the Naval Strike Missile — would take part in the joint exercise. The missiles are being deployed to “a strategic first island chain chokepoint” in the waters between Taiwan proper and the Philippines, US-based Naval News reported. “The Luzon Strait and Bashi Channel represent a critical access
Pope Francis is be laid to rest on Saturday after lying in state for three days in St Peter’s Basilica, where the faithful are expected to flock to pay their respects to history’s first Latin American pontiff. The cardinals met yesterday in the Vatican’s synod hall to chart the next steps before a conclave begins to choose Francis’ successor, as condolences poured in from around the world. According to current norms, the conclave must begin between May 5 and 10. The cardinals set the funeral for Saturday at 10am in St Peter’s Square, to be celebrated by the dean of the College
RSS