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Two people detained over suspected spying for China

A former official with the Military Intelligence Bureau (MIB) was yesterday taken into custody by law enforcers for alleged attempts to collect intelligence for China, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said.

Also arrested was an incumbent official with the MIB, suspected of having provided information to his former colleague, the MND said.

"Although the two have current or past work connections with the MIB, their alleged espionage was discovered early and damage caused to the country has been contained," it said.

The two suspected spies were identified as 58-year-old Tseng Chao-wen (曾昭文), the ex-MIB official, and 55-year-old Chen Tsui-chung (陳穗瓊), Tseng's former colleague at the MIB and now still working for the bureau.

Tseng left the MIB 15 years ago because of what was described as "personal misconduct."

In the bureau, Tseng worked in the first department, which handled affairs not related to intelligence such as educational training, congressional liaison, and administration.

By the time Tseng left the bureau, he had already worked there for 16 years. He entered the MIB as a civilian employee without any military status. He did not have access to any classified information, the MND said.

Investigations by the military indicated that Tseng had been recruited by Chinese intelligence authorities in recent years during his travels to China and that he took advantage of his former connections with the MIB to collect information for Beijing.

Incumbent MIB official Chen was found to have close contacts with Tseng, although evidence proving he passed classified information to his former colleague has yet to be found.

The military's counter-intelligence units had been watching Tseng and Chen for some time before they took action to apprehend the two on Wednesday. After questioning, the two were held in custody yesterday on suspicion of spying.
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