Taiwan Increases Counter-Spionage Efforts After Alleged Chinese Infiltration

JAKARTA - Taiwan's military is determined to step up counter-spionage efforts, as authorities investigate several officers and former military officers suspected of being spies for China.

A lieutenant colonel surnamed Goodminton, who served in the Army Aviation Command and Special Forces, was detained on suspicion of leaking defense secrets to "foreign forces including China" and "developed organizations" in Taiwan, according to an official Central News Agency (CNA) news agency report.

Investigators searched the Commando headquarters in the northern city of Taoyuan this week, while four retired military officers and an "intermediary" surnamed Taoyuan are also being investigated.

Taiwan's Ministry of Defense said in a statement authorities had gathered "concrete evidence" of illegal activities.

"Facing infiltration by the Chinese Communist Party, national forces will continue to improve counter-spionage education and raise awareness," the ministry said, adding that it was saddened by the crime of "selling countries and the people".

In response to a question about the report in a press conference, Vice Secretary-General of the Presidential Office Alex Huang said the incident was "embarrassing" and called for a thorough investigation.

"Treasoning fellow soldiers and your own country must be strictly punished by law," he said, adding authorities had worked hard to prevent such incidents from happening again.

Separately, the Taiwan Affairs Office in China did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

China has in recent years launched a ongoing espionage campaign to undermine Taiwan's democratically-ruled military and civilian leadership.

Beijing, which views Taipei as its own territory, has increased military and political pressure over the past few years, to try to force the island to accept its sovereignty which continues to be rejected.

In the past decade, at least 21 Taiwanese officers who are still active or have retired with the rank of captain or higher have been convicted of spying for China, according to a Reuters review of court records and reports from Taiwan's official news agency.