Taiwan has convicted a former presidential aide and three other men for spying for China, handing out jail sentences ranging from four to ten years. The court ruled that these individuals leaked sensitive state secrets over an extended period, sharing critical diplomatic information with Chinese intelligence.
Former Presidential Aide and Others Sentenced for Spying
One of the men, Huang Chu-jung, a former assistant to a Taipei city councillor, received the longest sentence of 10 years. The court noted that Huang instructed a foreign office staffer to obtain information from Joseph Wu, Taiwan’s former foreign minister, who now serves as the country’s national security chief. Huang then compiled reports using the information and sent them to the Chinese Communist Party using encrypted software.
The staffer, Ho Jen-chieh, was sentenced to eight years and two months in jail for his role in the espionage. Another ex-DPP staffer, Chiu Shih-yuan, worked with Huang to collect additional intelligence. Chiu reportedly sourced details from Wu Shangyu, who was an aide to President Lai Ching-te, first during his vice-presidency and briefly after he became president in 2024. The court found that Wu provided information about Lai’s travel itineraries.
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Huang was paid nearly NT$5 million (around $163,172 or £122,203) by Chinese authorities for his actions, while Chiu received more than NT$2 million. The court emphasized that the information leaked involved important diplomatic intelligence, which worsened Taiwan’s already delicate diplomatic situation.
All four men were expelled from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in June, a month before they were formally charged. The espionage case reflects a long-term effort by China to gather intelligence on Taiwan, a democracy that Beijing claims as its territory.
Rising Espionage Concerns in Taiwan
Taiwan has been increasingly vigilant about Chinese espionage in recent years. The National Security Bureau reported that authorities prosecuted 64 people for spying for China in 2024 alone. This represents a significant increase compared to the 44 cases that Taiwan’s Ministry of Justice recorded between 2013 and 2019.
Taiwan has launched these prosecutions as part of a broader effort to secure sensitive state information, including diplomatic communications and military data. Recent high-profile espionage cases have involved even senior officials. In 2023, for example, authorities jailed a former air force colonel for 20 years after he ran a military spy network for China.
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Espionage cases have also heightened tension in Taiwan’s internal politics. The ruling DPP takes a strong stance against China and supports pro-independence policies. Meanwhile, the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) favors closer dialogue with Beijing. The DPP has accused the KMT of serving as a conduit for Chinese influence, while critics argue that the ruling party may use anti-China measures to suppress opposition voices.
Authorities view the conviction of Huang and the others as part of Taiwan’s ongoing crackdown on espionage, which highlights the intensifying security threats that Beijing poses.
Taiwan-China Relations and Spying Challenges
Taiwan and China have had a tense relationship for decades. China considers Taiwan part of its territory and has increased intelligence operations against the island in recent years. In response, Taiwan has strengthened its security measures and increased prosecutions of suspected spies.
President Lai Ching-te has frequently spoken about the threat from China, referring to it as a “foreign hostile force.” Beijing, in turn, criticizes him, calling him a “destroyer of cross-straits peace.” The recent court convictions come amid heightened military and intelligence activity in the region, including Chinese naval and air incursions near Taiwan.
The court emphasized that the espionage carried out by Huang and his co-defendants involved critical diplomatic intelligence. This made Taiwan’s already challenging diplomatic position even more complicated, demonstrating the high stakes of espionage between the two sides.
Taiwan has taken these convictions as the latest legal actions to address the increasing threat of Chinese intelligence operations, highlighting the ongoing security challenges the island nation faces.