Spy plans to surrender to Beijing

A Taiwanese businessman who claimed he had spied for Taiwan in China told reporters yesterday that he plans to surrender to Chinese authorities to secure the release of one of his employees being detained in China.

Chang Chih-peng (張志鵬) first revealed his story on March 3, when he told reporters that an off-the-cuff remark by President Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) during the 1996 missile crisis had provided information to Chinese authorities that helped them hunt down and execute two Chinese generals working with him.

Major General Liu Liankun (劉連昆) and Brigadier General Shao Zhengzhong (邵正忠) were sentenced to death and executed last August by lethal injection.

So far, the Chinese authorities are believed to have questioned more than 200 and arrested at least 22 people in the case, including Yao Chia-chen (姚嘉珍), a former employee at Chang's Hong Kong company.

Chang claims that the Chinese authorities froze his assets in Hong Kong and on the mainland after he fled to Taiwan.

Chang lashed out at Taiwan's military intelligence officials yesterday for ignoring the plight of the arrested people and himself.

Chang shed tears several times at yesterday's press conference, saying he no longer feels any reluctance about leaving Taiwan and giving himself up to Chinese authorities.

Chang also added that he had rejected an offer of NT$2 million to NT$3 million compensation from military intelligence officials on condition that he would make no mention of the case again.

However, Chang added he would he would entrust legislators Roy Chou (周錫瑋) and Elmer Feng (馮滬祥) to seek compensation for his losses, including assets frozen by the Chinese authorities.

President Lee denied that he leaked any information that led to the arrests and executions.

Military sources had expressed doubts about the authenticity of Chang's story as well as his motives.

However, Chang may just be hawking his story for cash, the sources said.