Three Taiwanese affiliated with the China Unification Promotion Party (CUPP) were sentenced to prison terms ranging from six months to a year yesterday for recruiting military personnel to spy on behalf of China.
The Kaohsiung branch of the High Court sentenced CUPP deputy secretary-general Wen Lung (溫瓏) to 10 months in prison, and retired military officers Chiang Chiung-lin (江瓊麟) to one year and Chu Hsin-yu (朱新瑜) to six months over contraventions of the National Security Act (國家安全法).
All three men were also fined NT$50,000 (US$1,510), although they could choose to commute their sentences to fines of NT$1,000 per day.
Photo: David Chang, EPA-EFE
Wen, who in 2016 started a business in China importing technology and crops from Taiwan, was recruited by Chinese operatives to develop organizations of former Taiwanese military personnel on behalf of China, prosecutors said.
Wen invited Chiang, who served in the air force, and Chu, who served in the navy, on a trip to China, where they agreed to join the CUPP, the court said.
Once all three men agreed to work on behalf of Chinese Communist Party officials, they used their own connections and networks to recruit active or retired military personnel, prosecutors said.
Chu became the head of a local CUPP chapter to help with his own efforts in recruiting, prosecutors said.
In 2019, Chiang attempted to recruit an officer from the air force’s Songshan Base Command in Taipei, offering professional opportunities and financial rewards, prosecutors said.
The officer rejected the offer and reported the incident, prosecutors added.
Chu and Wen confessed to their crimes, the court said, leading to their reduced sentences.
Prosecutors said that during questioning all three admitted to having met with “united front” officials and other Chinese intelligence officers.
Hong Kong singer Eason Chan’s (陳奕迅) concerts in Kaohsiung this weekend have been postponed after he was diagnosed with Covid-19 this morning, the organizer said today. Chan’s “FEAR and DREAMS” concert which was scheduled to be held in the coming three days at the Kaohsiung Arena would be rescheduled to May 29, 30 and 31, while the three shows scheduled over the next weekend, from May 23 to 25, would be held as usual, Universal Music said in a statement. Ticket holders can apply for a full refund or attend the postponed concerts with the same seating, the organizer said. Refund arrangements would
Taiwanese indie band Sunset Rollercoaster and South Korean outfit Hyukoh collectively received the most nominations at this year’s Golden Melody Awards, earning a total of seven nods from the jury on Wednesday. The bands collaborated on their 2024 album AAA, which received nominations for best band, best album producer, best album design and best vocal album recording. “Young Man,” a single from the album, earned nominations for song of the year and best music video, while another track, “Antenna,” also received a best music video nomination. Late Hong Kong-American singer Khalil Fong (方大同) was named the jury award winner for his 2024 album
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) on Friday laid out the Cabinet’s updated policy agenda and recapped the government’s achievements ahead of the one-year anniversary of President William Lai’s (賴清德) inauguration. Cho said the government had made progress across a range of areas, including rebuilding Hualien, cracking down on fraud, improving pedestrian safety and promoting economic growth. “I hope the public will not have the impression that the Cabinet only asked the legislature to reconsider a bunch of legal amendments,” Cho said, calling the moves “necessary” to protect constitutional governance and the public’s interest. The Cabinet would work toward achieving its “1+7” plan, he said. The