Taiwanese prosecutors have charged four former members of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) with espionage, accusing them of sharing classified information with China in a case that underscores rising tensions across the Taiwan Strait.
The Taipei District Prosecutors Office announced Tuesday that the four individuals, including a former aide in President Lai Ching-te’s office, face multiple charges under the Classified National Security Information Protection Act and the National Security Act. Authorities allege the group was involved in a long-running espionage operation that transmitted sensitive diplomatic information to Beijing, causing “significant harm” to Taiwan’s national security.
Prosecutors are seeking prison sentences ranging from five years to more than 18 years and have requested the seizure of illicit proceeds totaling over NT$8.3 million (approximately US$277,000).
The alleged spy ring includes a defendant surnamed Huang, said to have used a specific messaging app to transfer information to Chinese contacts. Huang previously worked for a New Taipei City councillor, according to the Central News Agency (CNA). Another suspect, surnamed Ho, was a former aide to Joseph Wu, Taiwan’s current National Security Council chief and former foreign minister.
Both Huang and Ho deny the charges. The remaining two defendants, one of whom formerly served in President Lai’s office during his tenure as vice president, have reportedly confessed to the allegations. A fifth suspect, also expelled from the DPP, remains under investigation.
China considers Taiwan a breakaway province and has not ruled out the use of force to bring it under its control. Taipei, meanwhile, accuses Beijing of using espionage and political infiltration to destabilize the island’s democratic institutions.
Taiwan’s National Security Bureau reported a sharp increase in espionage cases in recent years, with 64 individuals prosecuted in 2024 alone, up from just 10 in 2022. This year’s cases include 15 military veterans and 28 active-duty service members, some of whom received sentences as high as 20 years.
Authorities warn that espionage poses a growing threat to Taiwan’s national resilience, especially amid fears of a potential Chinese military invasion.
