TAIPEI (Reuters) – Taiwanese accused of spying for China rose by a third to 64 last year, the island’s National Security Bureau said, adding that most were current or retired soldiers.
China has stepped up political and military pressure in recent years to support its claim that democratic Taiwan is its own territory. This included daily military exercises, balloons near the island and a spy campaign.
The increase in the number of Taiwanese accused of attempted espionage for China represents a “significant increase” from 48 and 10 people in 2023 and 2022, respectively, according to a National Security Bureau report released on Sunday.
The report did not explain the increase in the number of cases.
“The Chinese Communist Party continues to use various channels and means to infiltrate all walks of life to absorb citizens to help them develop networks or collect sensitive government information,” the report said.
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Among those indicted last year, two-thirds were current or retired members of the armed forces, the report said, adding that this demographic was a “prime target” of Chinese infiltration into Taiwan.
Through criminal groups, underground banks and religious groups, some retired soldiers tried to recruit members of the military to obtain sensitive military data or build spy networks, the report said.
In some unspecified cases, the report said, some gangsters were asked to serve as undercover agents to “sabotage” and raise the Chinese flag in the event of a Chinese invasion; Some retired military officers were instructed to collect photos and coordinates of foreign government offices in Taiwan in an attempt to form a “sniper team” for an “assassination mission.”
Seven retired military officials were prosecuted last year on suspicion of Chinese espionage, including mapping the coordinates and details of several military bases and the de facto US embassy in Taipei, the official Central News Agency reported last week.
Beijing has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control. The government in Taipei strongly rejects China’s claims to sovereignty and vows to defend its democracy and freedom.
