Taiwan Jails Four Soldiers for Spying for China

A Taiwan court has sentenced four soldiers to prison for spying for China, including three who were part of the president’s security team. The men received jail terms of up to seven years after being convicted of passing classified military information to Chinese intelligence agents between 2022 and 2024.

The Taipei district court ruled that the four soldiers had violated Taiwan’s national security law by secretly photographing and sharing sensitive military information. Three of the convicted soldiers were assigned to a military unit responsible for protecting the Presidential Office, while the fourth served in the Ministry of National Defense’s telecommunications command.

According to the court, the men received payments ranging from NT$260,000 to NT$660,000 ($7,850–$20,000) in exchange for their activities.

“Their acts betrayed the country and endangered national security,” the court stated, as per a report from The Guardian.

Here is What You Need to Know

The espionage case came to light after a tip-off to Taiwan’s defense ministry in August 2024. By that time, three of the soldiers had already been discharged from the military, while the fourth was suspended pending further investigation.

During the trial, the court emphasized that the soldiers had worked for “extremely sensitive and important units but violated their duties to accept bribes, and stole secrets by photographing.”

The four were sentenced to prison terms ranging from five years and ten months to seven years.

Rising Espionage Cases Amid China-Taiwan Tensions

Taiwan has seen a sharp rise in espionage cases in recent years, as its military and intelligence agencies crack down on suspected infiltration by China. Many of those prosecuted have been active or retired military personnel allegedly recruited by Chinese agents.

China, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory, has ramped up pressure on the self-governing island through military intimidation, cyberwarfare, disinformation campaigns, and espionage.

Earlier this month, Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te formally designated China as a “foreign hostile power” and announced new measures to counter Beijing’s influence. These measures include the reinstatement of military courts to handle espionage cases involving military personnel. As tensions continue to rise, Taiwan’s government remains on high alert for further infiltration attempts and intelligence threats from China.