The US government should offer to train Taiwan’s top spy catchers, an expert told the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission.
Former FBI supervisory special agent David Major — also a former White House director of counterintelligence — said the training should include instructions on targeting and recruitment operations.
Testifying before the commission on Thursday, Major said that China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS) is targeting Taiwan for espionage activities.
“Targeting of the Republic of China [ROC] is an exception to most of the rules of Chinese intelligence,” Major said. “This target is essentially the area of operation exclusively of the MSS. Taiwan is the third rail for China, both politically and for intelligence collection.”
“In the recent time period Taiwan pushed the USA hard for the release of new F-16 fighter aircraft and is awaiting delivery of Patriot PAC-3 air defense missile systems and the P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft. All these technologies are targets of the mainland Chinese,” he added.
Major said in his testimony that China has an “intense interest” in developing the capability to disrupt Taiwanese communications ahead of an attack on the nation.
He said that according to a former US deputy defense secretary, China’s penetration of Taiwan affected what types of arms the US was willing to sell to Taiwan.
Major said that China’s success in penetrating Taiwan’s military and intelligence community agencies had serious implications for US national security.
He said that between 2002 and this year, 56 people in Taiwan were charged with being clandestine agents of the MSS or the People’s Liberation Army.
According to Major, there were 23 espionage plots over the period, all but six of which involved more than one person.
Included in the 56 people charged were 15 members of Taiwan’s three intelligence services — the National Security Bureau, the Military Intelligence Bureau and the Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau.
“The [People’s Republic of China] PRC intelligence service relies heavily on their recruited Taiwan agents recruiting sub-agents and creating networks,” Major said.
He said that at least 50 percent of the Taiwanese were recruited into espionage for the PRC by a co-worker, friend or relative.
“Justifiable concerns about the security of US defense systems sold to Taiwan are a byproduct of this espionage activity,” Major said.
He said that Taiwan had made efforts to improve security — including trip reporting and routine polygraphs for personnel with sensitive access as well as boosting its counterintelligence staff.
“It is hoped that both countries are openly sharing damage assessments to help make way for improved US-Taiwan counterintelligence cooperation,” Major said.
“Knowing the degree of severity of Taiwan’s espionage losses, the US government will assume the worst case in spite of the many questions that could be raised about how much damage each spy did,” he added. “If the US begins to slow down or stop the transfer of needed technology and information with Taiwan for fear of espionage loss, then the PRC wins and Taiwan is doomed.”
The commission hearing on Chinese intelligence services and espionage operations asked all of those who testified for recommendations on congressional action.
“The US government should consider offering first-class advanced counterintelligence training to the three ROC intelligence agencies,” Major said. “This would include training on targeting and recruitment operations.”
SHIPS, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES: The ministry has announced changes to varied transportation industries taking effect soon, with a number of effects for passengers Beginning next month, the post office is canceling signature upon delivery and written inquiry services for international registered small packets in accordance with the new policy of the Universal Postal Union, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications said yesterday. The new policy does not apply to packets that are to be delivered to China, the ministry said. Senders of international registered small packets would receive a NT$10 rebate on postage if the packets are sent from Jan. 1 to March 31, it added. The ministry said that three other policies are also scheduled to take effect next month. International cruise ship operators
NUMBERS IMBALANCE: More than 4 million Taiwanese have visited China this year, while only about half a million Chinese have visited here Beijing has yet to respond to Taiwan’s requests for negotiation over matters related to the recovery of cross-strait tourism, the Tourism Administration said yesterday. Taiwan’s tourism authority issued the statement after Chinese-language daily the China Times reported yesterday that the government’s policy of banning group tours to China does not stop Taiwanese from visiting the country. As of October, more than 4.2 million had traveled to China this year, exceeding last year. Beijing estimated the number of Taiwanese tourists in China could reach 4.5 million this year. By contrast, only 500,000 Chinese tourists are expected in Taiwan, the report said. The report
Temperatures are forecast to drop steadily as a continental cold air mass moves across Taiwan, with some areas also likely to see heavy rainfall, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. From today through early tomorrow, a cold air mass would keep temperatures low across central and northern Taiwan, and the eastern half of Taiwan proper, with isolated brief showers forecast along Keelung’s north coast, Taipei and New Taipei City’s mountainous areas and eastern Taiwan, it said. Lows of 11°C to 15°C are forecast in central and northern Taiwan, Yilan County, and the outlying Kinmen and Lienchiang (Matsu) counties, and 14°C to 17°C
STEERING FAILURE: The first boat of its class is experiencing teething issues as it readies for acceptance by the navy, according to a recent story about rudder failure The Hai Kun (海鯤), the nation’s first locally built submarine, allegedly suffered a total failure of stern hydraulic systems during the second round of sea acceptance trials on June 26, and sailors were forced to manually operate the X-rudder to turn the submarine and return to port, news Web site Mirror Daily reported yesterday. The report said that tugboats following the Hai Kun assisted the submarine in avoiding collisions with other ships due to the X-rudder malfunctioning. At the time of the report, the submarine had completed its trials and was scheduled to begin diving and surfacing tests in shallow areas. The X-rudder,
RSS