Both the Ministry of National Defense and the National Security Bureau (NSB) yesterday dismissed as a “media allegation” a report published by a local media outlet saying that a former director of Taiwan’s defense mission in the US, Major General Li Hsien-sheng (黎賢聖), had close ties to a female Chinese agent, leading to suspicions that sensitive information about the nation’s US weapons procurement program had been leaked to China.
The Chinese-language Apple Daily yesterday reported that an investigation by the bureau suggested that the 51-year-old Li, who is married and has two children, is suspected of carrying on an extra-marital affair with a Chinese woman during his stint in the US.
A US intelligence agency became aware of the situation and put the couple under surveillance to track their activities, as intelligence agents knew that the Chinese woman was conducting espionage missions in the US, according to the Apple Daily.
Local media speculated on the possibility of Taiwan’s national security being compromised as Li, as the head of Taiwan’s defense mission in Washington at the time, was in charge of liaising with his US counterparts on a number of major weapons procurement programs.
By virtue of his position as director of the defense mission, Li was responsible for negotiating with the US military on upgrades to F16A/B jets, the proposed sale of Patriot Advanced Capability-3 missiles to Taiwan, the nation’s purchase of a long-range early warning radar system and other major arms deals.
Li was removed from his post after he failed a lie detector test in May this year.
Local media reported that Li subsequently failed follow-up polygraph tests conducted by the NSB and the Military Intelligence Bureau at least five times.
NSB Director-General Lee Hsiang-chou (李翔宙) yesterday confirmed that the bureau was involved in an inquiry into Li’s case.
“But no detail can be divulged, because it is an ongoing investigation. We hope people can wait for the outcome of the investigation and the judicial ruling. This case must be treated with care and prudence. It should not be reported on based on conjecture and chasing shadows in the dark,” Lee said.
Defense Ministry spokesman Major General David Lo (羅紹和) said no evidence has been found that indicates Li had betrayed his country and passed military secrets on to China.
He dismissed the Apple Daily report as over-dramatic and containing speculations, which may mislead the public.
The Chinese military has built landing bridge ships designed to expand its amphibious options for a potential assault on Taiwan, but their combat effectiveness is limited due to their high vulnerability, a defense expert said in an analysis published on Monday. Shen Ming-shih (沈明室), a research fellow at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, said that the deployment of such vessels as part of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy’s East Sea Fleet signals a strong focus on Taiwan. However, the ships are highly vulnerable to precision strikes, which means they could be destroyed before they achieve their intended
The first two F-16V Bock 70 jets purchased from the US are expected to arrive in Taiwan around Double Ten National Day, which is on Oct. 10, a military source said yesterday. Of the 66 F-16V Block 70 jets purchased from the US, the first completed production in March, the source said, adding that since then three jets have been produced per month. Although there were reports of engine defects, the issue has been resolved, they said. After the jets arrive in Taiwan, they must first pass testing by the air force before they would officially become Taiwan’s property, they said. The air force
GLOBAL: Although Matsu has limited capacity for large numbers of domestic tourists, it would be a great high-end destination for international travelers, an official said Lienchiang County’s (Matsu) unique landscape and Cold War history give it great potential to be marketed as a destination for international travelers, Tourism Administration Director General Chen Yu-hsiu (陳玉秀) said at the weekend. Tourism officials traveled to the outlying island for the Matsu Biennial, an art festival that started on Friday to celebrate Matsu’s culture, history and landscape. Travelers to Matsu, which lies about 190km northwest of Taipei, must fly or take the state-run New Taima passenger ship. However, flights are often canceled during fog season from April to June. Chen spoke about her vision to promote Matsu as a tourist attraction in
PAWSITIVE IMPACT: A shop owner said that while he adopted cats to take care of rodents, they have also attracted younger visitors who also buy his dried goods In Taipei’s Dadaocheng (大稻埕), cats lounging in shops along Dihua Street do more than nap amid the scent of dried seafood. Many have become beloved fixtures who double as photography models, attracting visitors and helping boost sales in one of the capital’s most historic quarters. A recent photo contest featuring more than a dozen shop cats drew more than 2,200 submissions, turning everyday cat-spotting into a friendly competition that attracted amateur and professional photographers. “It’s rare to see cats standing, so when it suddenly did, it felt like a lucky cat,” said Sabrina Hsu (徐淳蔚), who won the NT$10,000 top prize in
RSS