Taiwan Sentences Spies Working for China

A Taipei court has sentenced eight Taiwanese soldiers to prison for espionage activities conducted on behalf of China, revealing a troubling breach of national security. The court found that retired military officers had bribed active-duty soldiers with sums reaching 700,000 Taiwan dollars (approximately $21,900) to join a spy network. Among those sentenced, one soldier received a 13-year term, the longest in the group, while a lieutenant-colonel was given nine years for planning to defect to China via helicopter. The court's ruling highlighted the gravity of the soldiers' actions, stating they had "violated their official duties" and posed a significant threat to Taiwan's national security. The case is part of a broader pattern of espionage between Taiwan and China, which views the self-ruled island as a breakaway province. The tensions have persisted since the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949, with both sides actively monitoring each other's military activities. In total, ten individuals were indicted for spying last year, with eight receiving sentences on Thursday. One individual was acquitted, while a retired officer remains at large. The Taiwanese government has recently expressed concerns over increasing Chinese espionage efforts, including a recent indictment of a sergeant for leaking sensitive defense information. In response to these developments, Taiwan's President William Lai emphasized the need for unity among the island's citizens to defend national sovereignty and democracy, particularly during a commemorative event marking the 66th anniversary of China's assault on Taiwan's Kinmen islands.