Two Military Personnel Charged With Spying in Return for Crypto
Taiwan prosecutors have charged two military personnel in a case of suspected espionage linked to China. Authorities say a former sergeant recruited an active-duty officer to hand over military training materials in exchange for cryptocurrency payments worth around US$2,500.
Chinese Espionage Indictment in Taiwan
REPORTER:
What’s the price for loyalty to one’s country? Taiwan prosecutors say for two men accused of spying for China, it was around $2500 US dollars in cryptocurrency. They’re now being charged under Taiwan’s National Security and Anti-Corruption Acts.
REPORTER:
Prosecutors say one of the men, a former sergeant who was in debt, reached out to a former colleague, an active-duty officer, asking him to supply training materials. The officer said no at first, but later gave in. The sergeant then sent the information on to China in exchange for the crypto.
REPORTER:
The case has raised renewed focus on a key issue: how Chinese spies take advantage of Taiwanese troops’ financial difficulties to gain access to sensitive or classified materials.
Chen Kuan-ting (LEGISLATOR, DPP):
Some use [their target’s] debt and some use bribery. Whatever it is, we must establish a reporting mechanism to trace and crack these cases.
Wang An-hsiang (LEGISLATOR, TPP):
During my questioning session I specifically brought up to our national security officials that they must take these types of cases seriously. I also recommended that they move quickly on implementing a vetting system.
REPORTER:
Responding to concerns over this growing problem, the defense ministry has stepped in. Early this year, it rolled out an emergency loan program for troops facing financial hardship. So far, 633 loans totaling roughly $6.6 million US dollars have been doled out.
REPORTER:
But that alone may not be enough to stem the tide of Chinese spy cases in Taiwan’s military. The Cabinet has also proposed increasing punishments for former and active-duty troops accused of espionage, which are seen as too lenient.
REPORTER:
And though no top-level intel was leaked in this most recent case, it highlights China’s persistent efforts to undermine Taiwan’s military and make it harder for the country to defend itself.
