Two retired military officers were indicted yesterday for allegedly helping China develop an espionage network in Taiwan.
Chien Ching-kuo (錢經國), who retired from the navy in 2009, and Lu Chun-chun (盧俊均), who served at the Missile Command Center until 2005, were charged with violating the National Security Act (國家安全法) and Anti-Corruption Act (貪污治罪條例).
The Kaohsiung District Prosecutors’ Office said in the indictment that after retiring, Lu began a business career in China, where he reportedly made friends with government officials in Xiamen before being recruited by Chinese intelligence.
In May 2009, Lu invited Chien on an all-expenses-paid trip to Bali, Indonesia, where Chien met with Chinese intelligence personnel, the indictment said.
Chinese intelligence allegedly asked Chien about the situation in Taiwan’s military and paid 1,000 Chinese yuan to 2,000 Chinese yuan (US$164 to US$328 at current exchange rates).
Following their return home, Lu and Chien invited Chang Chih-hsin (張祉鑫), then-chief officer of political warfare at the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Office, and his wife on a trip to Cebu, Philippines, the indictment said, adding that Chang later agreed to help active-duty officers gather intelligence for China and arrange for overseas trips for them.
He is suspected of having received US$2,000 as a reward during the Cebu trip.
Chang retired last year and he is facing espionage charges in a case before the Taiwan High Court’s Kaohsiung Branch.
Chien is also accused of inviting a Ministry of National Defense division head, identified only by his surname Hsu (徐), to dine at a Taipei restaurant in September 2011 and trying to convince him to spy for China.
Hsu, a one-star general, rejected the offer, but his wife and her sister later accepted a trip to Xiamen from Chien, the indictment said. The Kaohsiung High Prosecutors’ Office is looking into that case.
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