The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday expelled former legislative assistant Chu Cheng-chi (朱政騏) from the party and revoked his preliminary nomination to run for a Taipei City council seat after he was indicted last week by the Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office on suspicion of contravening the National Security Act (國家安全法) by allegedly leaking classified legislative documents to Chinese intelligence agents.
Chu had close ties with Chinese national Wang Wei (王煒), now a center chief at Strait Herald, a subsidiary of the Fujian Daily, when Wang was a reporter, according to the indictment.
Wang, who had been in Taiwan for more than a decade, allegedly persuaded Chu in 2022 to photograph classified documents and send them in exchange for NT$20,000, the indictment said.
Photo: Taipei Times
Wang also allegedly provided Chu with an iPhone 13 Pro to transmit the information, in an attempt to reduce the risk of detection by national security authorities.
The Mainland Affairs Council (陸委會) in January last year said that Strait Herald is not a purely media organization, citing its ties to the Chinese government and its role in promoting pro-unification narratives.
Tunghai University Center for Mainland China and Regional Development Research deputy director Hung Pu-chao (洪浦釗) said the case highlights weaknesses in Taiwan’s response to Chinese infiltration.
As a democracy, Taiwan protects freedom of the press and the right to gather news, but it creates an open space that can be exploited, he said, adding that China’s infiltration activities in Taiwan through specific media outlets go beyond journalism, becoming a tool for networking, information gathering and influence operations.
Some people with access to sensitive information lack sufficient risk awareness, while others considered high-risk have been able to operate freely and build networks without adequate oversight, Hung said.
The case is not isolated, but reflects a systematic approach by China, with established channels and standardized payments for obtaining information, he said.
“The issue is not whether such cases occur, but why they continue without effective prevention,” Hung said.
Hung urged the government to compile data on similar cases, better understand China’s methods and review legal frameworks to address potential loopholes.
The reforms would require coordination with opposition parties and public support to ensure sufficient backing, he said.
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