Lenient spying punishments
It has been reported that many retired or high-ranking active-duty military officers have been involved in attempted espionage or espionage. Their misconduct can be explained by the following: a lack of loyalty, an inability to identify the enemy and insufficient legal knowledge.
However, the major issue is the lenient punishments given to them.
For instance, the Taipei District Court found retired air force major general Chien Yao-tung (錢耀棟) and retired army lieutenant colonel Wei Hsien-yi (魏先儀) guilty of collaborating with Hong Kong businessperson and [alleged] Chinese intelligence operative Xie Xizhang (謝錫璋) to recruit Taiwanese military officials to spy for China.
On Tuesday last week, Wei received a sentence of one year and 10 months in prison, and a five-year suspended sentence; the court also fined Wei NT$600,000.
Chien received a sentence of one year in prison and a four-year suspended sentence, and was fined NT$300,000.
In other words, as long as they pay NT$600,000 and NT$300,000 respectively, they are alright.
Chien and Wei have profited from spying for China, while their behavior has severely damaged Taiwan’s security, military, society and people.
As high-ranking officers, they lack a sense of urgency and they have hurt military morale.
Considering how much harm they have caused the country, the punishments given to them are unjust and do not fit the principle of proportionality.
The court’s decision runs contrary to the expectation of the people.
Moreover, if their misconduct had not been exposed, would they have realized their wrongdoing and turned themselves in? Would they have revealed who else had been involved? I do not think they would have.
They pleaded guilty only after the investigation, because they knew the court would show leniency and they could get away with it. Should the court let things go their way while disregarding public opinion?
Tien Fong-wen
New Taipei City
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