Tensions are rising across the Taiwan Strait, with revelations about Chinese spies penetrating deeply into Taiwan's political scene.
According to the Liberty Times and United Daily News, the Taipei District Prosecutors' Office sought a 30-year and 6-month prison sentence for Huang Chih-jung, a former staff member of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) New Taipei City Council, on the 10th.
The prosecution noted that Huang was recruited by intelligence agents affiliated with the Chinese Central Military Commission while visiting China for business in 2003 during the administration of former President Chen Shui-bian.
After returning to Taiwan, Huang built and operated a spy organization for 22 years. In 2017, he even recruited Qiu, a former deputy director of the DPP's Taiwan Democracy Academy. It has since been confirmed that he made contact with intelligence agents from the Chinese Military Commission in Bangkok, Thailand, in 2023 and in Macau last year.
They provided confidential information through a spy app and received 6,077,500 New Taiwan dollars (about 270 million won) and 2,216,924 New Taiwan dollars (about 10 million won) in return.
It has been revealed that Huang also recruited key aides like He, who served as chief staff during the tenure of former Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu, and Wu, a former advisor to President Lai Ching-te.
They are accused of leaking transcripts of conversations between foreign diplomats and government officials, documents related to the "Taiwan-U.S. 21st Century Trade Initiative," Taiwan government's emergency responses regarding diplomatic severance with allied countries, and schedules of key government personnel during the presidential election period.
Taiwan's prosecutors have sought sentences of 30 years and 6 months to 5 years for these four individuals on charges of violating the National Security Act and the National Confidentiality Protection Act.
The DPP expelled five individuals, including those under investigation for espionage allegations linked to China, last month.
Espionage allegations have also emerged not only from the ruling DPP but also from the opposition party, the China-friendly Kuomintang.
According to the Taipei District Prosecutors' Office, on the same day, Lin Wei-lung, an aide to Wang Hsin-yu, a Kuomintang member of the Taipei City Council, is under investigation for espionage allegations.
The judicial authorities conducted searches at Lin's residence and the Taipei City Council office.
Lin has previously served as an aide to Kuomintang legislators Wang Hung-wei, Lin Chien-chi, and Hsu Yu-jen. He has also been a deputy spokesperson for the Kuomintang Taipei City Party.
The Taiwanese government stated it will strengthen measures to prevent Chinese spies from accessing key information.