Taiwanese prosecutors have filed national-security charges against seven people, among them a Chinese citizen, accusing them of helping Beijing gather sensitive military and government information.
According to the Taiwan High Prosecutors Office, the Chinese suspect, identified only by the surname Ding, repeatedly entered Taiwan posing as a tourist or businessman.
During those visits, he allegedly recruited both serving and retired members of Taiwan’s armed forces to obtain classified material for China’s Communist Party.
Prosecutors say the recruited Taiwanese personnel supplied information related to defence operations, internal military affairs and government matters. The seven accused now face charges under Taiwan’s National Security Act and several other criminal statutes. Another individual has been separately charged with financial crimes linked to the case, including money laundering.
Officials described the betrayal as severe, arguing that those who assisted Ding “turned against their fellow soldiers and their own country,” and urged the courts to impose strong penalties.
Ding was detained in July, according to Taiwan’s Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau (MJIB). A spokesperson noted that this is the first time since 2017 that a Chinese national has been formally charged on Taiwanese soil for espionage.
Most Chinese intelligence efforts, authorities said, are usually orchestrated from outside the island with help from local collaborators.
The MJIB said the case came to light through an internal defence ministry review before being handed to investigators across multiple agencies.
Espionage between Taipei and Beijing has been ongoing for decades, but Taiwanese officials warn that the stakes are higher today due to rising military tensions and the possibility of a conflict with China.
Taiwan’s National Security Bureau reported an increase in espionage-related prosecutions in recent years, from just 10 cases in 2022 to 48 in 2023 and 64 last year. Some offenders have received prison sentences of up to 20 years.
In a separate case earlier this year, four former members of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, including a former aide in the Presidential Office, were imprisoned after being found guilty of spying for China.
