Former Taiwanese Colonel Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Espionage on Behalf of China
A high court in Taiwan’s southern Kaohsiung City has convicted a retired air force colonel of operating an espionage network on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Liu Sheng-shu was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Oct. 25 for his espionage activities carried out from 2013 to 2021.
Given the national security implications of the case, the High Prosecutors’ Office in Kaohsiung delivered its verdict via video conferencing, withholding most of the information from the public.
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In April, the court charged Mr. Liu and six active air force and navy officers with violating the Classified National Security Information Act.
The investigation started in January when Mr. Liu and three active military officers were held incommunicado, and three other active lieutenant commanders were released on bail ranging from NT$100,000 to NT$200,000 ($3,080 to $6,170).
For years, Taiwan has been a target of espionage by the Chinese regime, which asserts the island nation as part of China despite never having ruled it. Beijing has vowed to take Taiwan by force, if necessary. The CCP has increased the frequency and scale of incursions into Taiwan’s airspace while conducting more military exercises surrounding the nation. Chinese espionage and infiltration through the efforts of the United Front Work Department are widespread in the country.
Members of the UFWD are involved in political meddling, seeking to manipulate, corrupt, or pressure politicians and influential individuals in foreign countries to back CCP interests and suppress criticism of Beijing. Their primary focus includes expanding international networks and recruiting non-professional intelligence personnel.
Recruited in China
According to the verdict, Mr. Liu was recruited by the Chinese intelligence when he started a business in China after he retired from the air force in 2013.
He was tasked to develop a spy network in Taiwan, recruiting individuals with military affiliations, and obtaining military intelligence.
Mr. Liu recruited six officers from Taiwan’s army, navy, and air force, with the payments for military secrets to the Chinese side varying from hundreds to thousands of dollars.
The court sentenced two military officers, a married couple surnamed Sun and Liu, to 19.5 years and 20.5 years, respectively. Major Gong, who confessed during the trial, was sentenced to 3.5 years for delivering three pieces of military intelligence; Major Deng to two years for providing one piece of military secret; Major Liu was acquitted. A man surnamed Lin, who assisted in setting up shell companies, was sentenced to six months in prison under the Company Act and was given the option to pay a fine instead.
Mr. Sun was initially recruited due to his considerable debts, and he subsequently convinced his
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