Taiwan: Businessman, retired officials detained on suspicion of spying for China

A Taiwanese court approved the detention of a businessman and two retired officials on suspicion of spying for China, Taiwan News reported on Friday.

Chinese security officials allegedly asked the businessman surnamed Wen to invite retired military officers to China for meetings, the Central News Agency (CNA) reported.

Kaohsiung prosecutors said a former official named Chu first agreed and then recruited Chiang to join him.

During the trip to China, the trio reportedly agreed to expand their organization and persuade more serving and retired officers to join and provide information to Beijing. After completing their investigation, prosecutors raided Wen’s home on May 9 and detained all three suspects, Taiwan News reported.

While all three accused have denied the charges, investigators said it was highly likely they broke national security laws.

To prevent them from fleeing the country or colluding, prosecutors wanted them to be kept secret. Subsequently, the Kaohsiung branch of the Taiwan High Court approved the request on Friday morning.

Earlier on Thursday, the Taiwan Coast Guard had detected Chinese ships south of Kinmen waters.

At least seven Chinese coast guard ships, along with three Chinese shipping boats suspected of carrying out exercises with them, entered restricted waters about 7 kilometers southwest of Kinmen.

Eleven Chinese coast guard ships and three fishing boats entered the prohibited and restricted waters of Kinmen in two convoys, Taiwan News reported.

On Thursday, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) said it saw six Chinese military aircraft operating near Taiwan’s airspace from 6 a.m. Thursday (local time) to 6 a.m. Friday (local time).

According to Taiwan’s MND, 4 of the 7 Chinese military aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s southwestern and eastern air defense identification zone (ADIZ). In response to Chinese activity, Taiwanese armed forces monitored the situation and deployed aircraft, naval ships, and coastal missile systems.