Army General Lo Hsien-che (羅賢哲), detained in what could be the nation’s worst espionage case in 50 years, was allegedly lured by sex and money offered by a female Chinese agent, local media reported yesterday.
Citing unnamed sources, local media reported that Lo was allegedly recruited while stationed in Thailand between 2002 and 2005, drawn in by a honeytrap set by the agent, then in her early 30s.
When asked for response, the Ministry of National Defense (MND), citing a gag order, yesterday declined to comment except to say that it was still investigating the case.
Before his arrest on Jan. 27, Lo was head of communications and electronic information at the Army Command Headquarters.
From 2002 until 2005, when Lo was stationed in Thailand, he reportedly drew the attention of China owing to his expertise in communications, information and diplomatic work, local media said, so China sent a female spy about 30 years of age to approach him.
Lo, who didn’t take his family with him, was allegedly enamored by this slender woman, who holds an Australian passport and traveled frequently between Thailand, China and the US under the cover of being a trader, local media reports said.
Lo allegedly began to work for China in 2004, providing classified information, and received a reward of between US$100,000 and US$200,000 each time.
Sources cited by the media reports said that after Lo returned to Taiwan in 2005, he continued to have exchanges with the woman via the Internet. The woman, who can easily travel with her Australian passport, also met Lo in the US to gather information.
China would remit Lo’s reward to a bank account in the US and Lo would bring some of his “commission” back to Taiwan, using his preferential immigration clearance, media reports said.
The woman allegedly introduced Lo to a high-ranking Chinese agent stationed in the US and Lo later allegedly reported to this agent.
The thing that amazed the investigators most was that Lo passed loyalty assessments all these years, the media reports said. He was promoted to the rank of general in 2008.
“Everyone was swindled by his humble and polite appearance,” one of the investigators said.
Lo came from a military family. His father and elder brother both served in the military before retiring. His son is currently serving in the military.
Those who know Lo said they were “shocked” to learn about his arrest. They saw him as more of a literary man, acting in a low-profile and cautious manner, even to the extent of being a little “cowardly.”
They couldn’t believe that Lo had “the guts” to do what the reports claim he has done.
They also said that Lo delights in reading books on “cultivating one’s moral character,” and that he is a man of few words, giving the impression of being humble and modest.
Wang Ming-wo (王明我), acting director of the ministry’s General Political Warfare Bureau, on Wednesday blasted the “act of betrayal” by Lo, saying that the 51-year-old officer “has sold his soul and brought shame to the military.”
Wang also apologized to the public, saying that “we feel sorry for those military servicemen on duty and the public who are concerned about national defense.”
He said that although cross-strait relations have warmed, China’s attempts to collect military information from Taiwan have continued unabated to the extent of being “relentless.”
China’s state-controlled Global Times tabloid yesterday quoted Li Fei (李非), an expert on Taiwan at China’s Xiamen University, as saying the two sides of the Taiwan Strait are still actively spying on each other.
“Espionage activities have never ceased, even though cross-strait tensions have eased over the years,” he said, adding that agents no longer targeted only military secrets, but also economic and technological intelligence.
Lo could face the death penalty or life imprisonment under the Criminal Code of the Armed Forces.
UPGRADE: The Kang Ding-class frigate is replacing its Chaparall missiles with Tien Chien II and Hua Yang VLS, which would provide it with long-range, 360° air defense Taiwan plans to produce 1,200 to 1,376 Hai Chien II missiles (海劍二, Sea Sword II) — also known as TC-2N — to serve as the standard air defense system of the navy’s surface combatant fleet, a source said yesterday. Last week, the Hai Chien II, the naval version of the Tien Kung II missile (天劍二, Sky Sword II), completed a live-fire test in waters off the National Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology’s Jiupeng facility (九鵬) in Pingtung County’s Manjhou Township (滿州). The MIM72 Chaparral and other dated air defense missiles that currently arm Taiwanese ships have inadequate range to combat Chinese
REASONS FOR TRAVEL: An assistant professor said that proposed amendments to penalize drivers if they used drugs overseas would not deter people from traveling People who operate a motor vehicle under the influence of marijuana would have their driver’s license revoked, even if they used the substance while overseas, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications said yesterday, citing proposed amendments to the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act (道路交通管理處罰條例). The amendments would also authorize the government to revoke the licenses of people determined to have used Category 1 or Category 2 narcotics, even if they were not operating a vehicle while under the influence of drugs, as well as ban them from taking the license test for three years, the ministry said. People aged 18 or
HEAVY WEATHER: Typhoon Jangmi is due to crash straight into the Ryukyus as airlines look to shift flights to larger aircraft or cancel flights to Okinawa entirely Taiwan’s international air carriers announced flight adjustments over the weekend as Typhoon Jangmi is forecast to hit the Ryukyu Islands today and tomorrow. The Central Weather Administration (CWA) upgraded Jangmi from a tropical storm to a typhoon at 8am yesterday, with the eye located 580km south of Naha city. It was moving north at 19kph. Today, China Airlines’ CI-120, CI-121, CI-122 and CI-123 flights between Taoyuan and Naha, Okinawa, have been canceled as well as CI-132 and CI-133 between Kaohsiung and Naha. EVA Air’s BR-112, BR-113, BR-186 and BR-185 flights between Taoyuan and Naha are also canceled. Low-cost carrier Tigerair Taiwan canceled IT-230,
Johanne Liou (劉喬安), a Taiwanese woman who shot to unwanted fame during the Sunflower movement protests in 2014, returned to Taiwan last night after being deported from the US. She is to stand trial in Taiwan for charges involving embezzlement, fraud and drug crimes. The Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) said it took her into custody at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport and would first question her before transferring her to the New Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office. She was arrested upon disembarking a flight from San Francisco that landed shortly before 7pm. Liou absconded to the US in 2019 after jumping bail
RSS