Taipei: The number of Taiwanese individuals charged with suspected espionage on behalf of China rose by one-third last year to 64, the island’s National Security Bureau (NSB) reported. The majority of those implicated were current or retired members of Taiwan’s armed forces.
China has increased its political and military pressure on Taiwan, a democratically governed island it claims as its territory. This pressure has included near-daily military drills, the deployment of surveillance balloons near Taiwan, and a persistent espionage campaign targeting sensitive information.
The NSB’s report revealed that the rise in espionage cases marked a significant jump from 48 in 2023 and just 10 in 2022. However, the report did not elaborate on the reasons behind this surge.
Espionage Tactics and Targets
“The Chinese Communist Party continues to use diverse channels and means to infiltrate all walks of life in order to absorb citizens to help them develop networks or gather sensitive government information,” the NSB stated.
Two-thirds of the individuals charged last year were current or retired soldiers, who were identified as the “main target” of Chinese infiltration efforts. The report detailed how criminal gangs, underground banks, and religious organizations were exploited to recruit military personnel and acquire classified military intelligence.
In some instances, retired soldiers were reportedly tasked with recruiting active-duty personnel to establish spy networks or obtain sensitive data. According to the report, criminal elements were also used as planted agents with the goal of “sabotaging” operations and raising China’s flag in the event of an invasion.
Notably, the NSB revealed that some retired military officers were directed to collect photographs and the coordinates of foreign government offices in Taiwan to prepare for potential sniper or assassination missions.
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Prosecutions Highlight Espionage Activities
Last year, seven retired military officials were prosecuted on charges of espionage for China. These cases included mapping out the coordinates of multiple military bases and the location of the de facto U.S. embassy in Taipei, according to the Central News Agency.
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the allegations.
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Taiwan’s Commitment to Sovereignty
Beijing has never ruled out the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control. However, the Taiwanese government has firmly rejected China’s sovereignty claims, pledging to defend its democracy and freedom.
