Taiwan media “China Occasions” disclosed that Taiwan’s Bureau of Investigation and different models found {that a} former petty officer surnamed Chen on the Naval Coaching Middle was compelled to repay money owed. Whereas serving, he was suspected of being recruited by Chinese language intelligence brokers as a spy for Beijing. He took benefit of his place to secretly take pictures of naval personnel, coaching, base pictures and different confidential info together with his cell phone on the Suao Navy Port in Yilan in japanese Taiwan and the Longquan Marine Corps Coaching Middle in Pingtung in southern Taiwan, and leaked it to China 4 occasions. , a complete revenue of roughly NT$170,000 (equal to roughly RMB 37,000).
The investigation bureau identified that the knowledge leaked by Chen concerned confidential info resembling army ports, warship pictures, personnel coaching, and so on., and was investigated by prosecutors from the “Main Circumstances Endangering Nationwide Safety and Social Order” group of the Nationwide Taiwan Excessive Prosecutor’s Workplace. The Nationwide Taiwan Excessive Prosecutor’s Workplace prosecuted Chen on the premise of the “Land, Sea and Air Drive Legal Legislation” for accumulating army secret electromagnetic information and the “Anti-Corruption Legislation” for violating official duties and accepting bribes. The investigation was concluded on June 24 this 12 months and public prosecution was launched.
The indictment talked about that since 2022, Chen has been in search of on-line loans by communication software program resembling LINE and TELEGRAM, and has met “Enterprise Supervisor Mr. Zhang” and different individuals in personal lending teams who acquire intelligence for China. To be able to acquire high-value financing and low-interest mortgage alternatives, Chen despatched messages to “Mr. Zhang” many occasions. “Mr. Zhang” lured Chen with a big sum of cash on the situation that Chen would offer Taiwan’s naval secrets and techniques.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Nationwide Protection spokesperson Solar Lifang confirmed at a daily press convention on the ninth that the case has entered judicial proceedings. The safety protection mechanism of the Ministry of Nationwide Protection found anomalies in the course of the inside counterintelligence course of, labored carefully with the nationwide safety group to unravel the case, and transferred the case to the judicial authorities for processing.
“Anomalies discovered internally” The Ministry of Nationwide Protection and safety companies cooperated to unravel the case
Solar Lifang emphasised: “Lately, the Chinese language Communist Get together’s infiltration of our enemy’s spies has certainly posed a severe menace to the nationwide military. This menace isn’t any much less severe than the menace from our missiles, plane and ships.” Because of this, we’re on the secure aspect. A number of strengthening has additionally been performed in training, counterintelligence mechanisms, and the operation of the safety mechanisms of the Nationwide Safety Group.
Solar Lifang talked about that lately, many espionage instances have been found by inside experiences of officers and troopers or the operation of safety and prevention mechanisms, which highlights the effectiveness of this half. Sooner or later, we should proceed to strengthen the institution of economic and enterprise training ideas for officers and troopers, and actively stop officers and troopers from falling into enemy traps.
Wang Dingyu, a legislator of Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Get together, stated in an interview that this isn’t the primary time. The final wave of espionage instances concerned many monetary points, and plenty of retired seniors returned to China to develop organizational relationships. “To be able to preserve the repute and honor of the army, we should eradicate these dangerous apples and cope with them with the strongest legal guidelines. By monetary loopholes and underground banks, loopholes in nationwide safety and nationwide protection are shaped. Ought to such a prison sample be punished?” More durable and extra deterrent measures are nonetheless into account.
Gong Xiangsheng, an affiliate researcher on the Institute of Chinese language Political and Navy Operational Ideas at Taiwan’s Nationwide Protection and Safety Analysis Institute, stated in an interview with Radio Free Asia that the Zuoying Navy Area is giant in space and has a brand new coaching middle the place necessary naval establishments are positioned and non-commissioned officers can transfer round freely. Troopers whose households have monetary difficulties or have poor cash administration habits and are in pressing want of cash usually turn into loopholes.
Low-level non-commissioned officers have a low barrier to entry and might simply solid a internet to acquire real-time info.
Up to now, Beijing has concerned many well-known senior retired generals in espionage instances. Lately, most of them are lively or retired non-commissioned officers and troopers. They’ve established relationships and gained contact alternatives by posing as senior college students, junior college students, superiors or subordinates.
Gong Xiangsheng stated: “He doesn’t want to coach high-level individuals. He solely wants to coach individuals on the decrease degree who’re straightforward to enter and simple to contact. They may help him {photograph} Zuoying Navy Port and necessary army amenities.” This sort of penetration could be very handy for them. And so they have quick entry to the army intelligence they want, which is essential.
Gong Xiangsheng gave an instance. Taking Zuoying Navy Port for example, by frequently taking pictures of surrounding army amenities at mounted factors, the variety of ships, personnel, and automobiles may be estimated inside per week or just a few days, thereby calculating the quantity and frequency of native army personnel, automobiles, or tools. , stationing peak interval, and so on.
In response to the Ministry of Nationwide Protection’s emphasis that the detection of the case was the results of the counterintelligence work of inside safety companies, Gong Xiangsheng stated that it’s troublesome to fully stop troopers from promoting intelligence, and what the Ministry of Nationwide Protection can do is to find it instantly and as quickly as doable.
He analyzed that previously, China had extra contact with retired army officers, however now, out of quick wants, it has begun to contact lively army personnel and take up every kind of intelligence to piece collectively an entire intelligence community.