China Steps Up Actions Targeting Taiwan’s Military
REPORTER:
China has recently stepped up its actions targeting Taiwan’s military, including through espionage and a bounty list. These efforts appear to be aimed at intimidating and dividing the armed forces.
REPORTER:
This is Taiwan’s domestically developed Hsiung Feng 2 anti-ship missile, a supersonic weapon designed to counter naval threats. But classified information about the system may have been leaked.
An investigation found that a Navy corporal surnamed Lin, who was discharged in 2021, met a Chinese intelligence agent through a dating app. He then acted as an intermediary, helping pass on documents, including the Hsiung Feng 2 missile launcher’s drill manual, operator handbook and other related classified materials.
Prosecutors have detained Lin, and indicted him for violating the National Security Act.
Taiwan’s defense ministry says the case came to light after other service members came forward and reported it.
Chiao Fu-chun (DEPUTY SPOKESPERSON, DEFENSE MINISTRY):
China’s infiltration efforts against us have never stopped.
A small number of service members have betrayed the country, driven by greed.
They should face the harshest punishment.
The ministry will reinforce counter-infiltration education to strengthen vigilance and patriotism among service members.
REPORTER:
An expert says the leak could force Taiwan to revise its training and deployment plans, which is extremely costly. But proving the case isn’t an easy task.
KJ Hsu (JUDGE, NAT’L SECURITY & MILITARY DIVISION, TAIPEI DISTRICT COURT):
I think the challenge will lie on the three elements, especially intent and the money flow, which make such case complicated and evidence heavy.
REPORTER:
In addition to the spying case, Beijing has stepped up other actions targeting Taiwan’s military.
After Taiwan celebrated its National Day on October 10, China published a list of 18 members from Taiwan’s Psychological Warfare Battalion and announced bounties on them.
Chinese state media even warned that its investigators have identified all 250-plus members of the unit, including their real identities and duties.
Taiwan’s defense ministry says the move is part of Beijing’s cognitive warfare campaign and called the tactics crude and clumsy.
Experts note that the so-called bounty is largely symbolic.
KJ Hsu (JUDGE, NAT’L SECURITY & MILITARY DIVISION, TAIPEI DISTRICT COURT):
Beijing's recent actions combined legal warfare and cognitive warfare.
Of course it's symbolic. Beijing has no judicial authorities over Taiwan. But the symbol doesn't mean harmless in psychological warfare.
REPORTER:
These recent moves, the expert says, are aimed to unsettle the soldiers’ families, amplify China’s propaganda, and ultimately sow distrust within the combat unit.
Taiwan says to better protect national security, it will strengthen safeguards against espionage and improve counter-infiltration training within the military.
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