Prosecutors have indicted seven retired military officers, members of the Rehabilitation Alliance Party, for allegedly obtaining funds from China, and forming paramilitary groups and assassination squads in Taiwan to collaborate with Chinese troops in a possible war.
The suspects contravened the National Security Act (國家安全法) by taking photos and drawing maps of key radar stations, missile installations and the American Institute in Taiwan’s headquarters in Taipei, prosecutors said.
They allegedly prepared to collaborate with China during a possible invasion of Taiwan, prosecutors said.
Photo: screen grab from the Ministry of the Interior Web site
Retired military officer Chu Hung-i (屈宏義), 62, a Republic of China Army Academy graduate, went to China for business after his retirement, they said.
Chu in 2019 linked up with a man surnamed Zhang (張), a Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) officer, and agreed to set up a spy network and engage in political activities in Taiwan, they said.
Chu later founded the Rehabilitation Alliance Party, they said.
The party’s slogan was “Revival of the Chinese nation, peace and happiness for all people,” they said.
The Taiwan High Court’s Taichung branch is overseeing the case. In addition to the National Security Act, the suspects are also accused of contravening the Anti-Infiltration Act (反滲透法). They are in detention pending trial.
Chu had allegedly obtained about NT$3 million (US$91,233) in funds for operations in Taiwan, prosecutors said, adding that it included NT$1.8 million he received via WeChat, NT$670,000 wired from unregistered remittance services and money he brought back from China.
The suspects prepared plans to recruit active and retired army personnel to establish a pro-China party, prosecutors said.
They formed spy networks and paramilitary groups, including snipers and assassination squads to kill government officials and politicians during a possible Chinese invasion, they said.
They waited as a sleeper cell to start an insurrection and infiltrate 100,000 PLA members into Taiwan, they said.
This is a very serious case of collusion with China, prosecutors said.
If the suspects are found guilty, they would lose their retirement pension according to Article 13 of the National Security Act, Mainland Affairs Council officials said.
Ministry of the Interior officials said the ministry would ask the Constitutional Court to dissolve the Rehabilitation Alliance Party.
SECURITY: As China is ‘reshaping’ Hong Kong’s population, Taiwan must raise the eligibility threshold for applications from Hong Kongers, Chiu Chui-cheng said When Hong Kong and Macau citizens apply for residency in Taiwan, it would be under a new category that includes a “national security observation period,” Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) said yesterday. President William Lai (賴清德) on March 13 announced 17 strategies to counter China’s aggression toward Taiwan, including incorporating national security considerations into the review process for residency applications from Hong Kong and Macau citizens. The situation in Hong Kong is constantly changing, Chiu said to media yesterday on the sidelines of the Taipei Technology Run hosted by the Taipei Neihu Technology Park Development Association. With
CARROT AND STICK: While unrelenting in its military threats, China attracted nearly 40,000 Taiwanese to over 400 business events last year Nearly 40,000 Taiwanese last year joined industry events in China, such as conferences and trade fairs, supported by the Chinese government, a study showed yesterday, as Beijing ramps up a charm offensive toward Taipei alongside military pressure. China has long taken a carrot-and-stick approach to Taiwan, threatening it with the prospect of military action while reaching out to those it believes are amenable to Beijing’s point of view. Taiwanese security officials are wary of what they see as Beijing’s influence campaigns to sway public opinion after Taipei and Beijing gradually resumed travel links halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the scale of
A US Marine Corps regiment equipped with Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) is set to participate in the upcoming Balikatan 25 exercise in the Luzon Strait, marking the system’s first-ever deployment in the Philippines. US and Philippine officials have separately confirmed that the Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) — the mobile launch platform for the Naval Strike Missile — would take part in the joint exercise. The missiles are being deployed to “a strategic first island chain chokepoint” in the waters between Taiwan proper and the Philippines, US-based Naval News reported. “The Luzon Strait and Bashi Channel represent a critical access
Pope Francis is be laid to rest on Saturday after lying in state for three days in St Peter’s Basilica, where the faithful are expected to flock to pay their respects to history’s first Latin American pontiff. The cardinals met yesterday in the Vatican’s synod hall to chart the next steps before a conclave begins to choose Francis’ successor, as condolences poured in from around the world. According to current norms, the conclave must begin between May 5 and 10. The cardinals set the funeral for Saturday at 10am in St Peter’s Square, to be celebrated by the dean of the College
RSS