Taiwan court sentences intelligence officers for spying for China

The court has sentenced three military intelligence officers in Taiwan for espionage in favour of China.

All three were found guilty of establishing a network of agents and passing secret information to Chinese intelligence services, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

The leaked information included details about the organisational structure and personnel of Taiwan's intelligence agency, as well as its sources. According to the prosecution, Colonel Chang Chao-jan was the first to be recruited by Chinese intelligence services in 1999.

He later persuaded Colonel Chou Tien-tzuand Major General Yueh Chih-chung, who was responsible for overseeing Taiwan's military intelligence operations related to China, to collaborate with Chinese intelligence. In return for their cooperation, they received money, free trips, and assistance in developing their business. 

The Taipei District Court sentenced retired Colonel Chang Chao-jan to 18 months in prison, while retired Major General Yueh Chih-chung and retired Colonel Chou Tien-tzu received sentences of 10 and 14 months, respectively. Another retired colonel involved in the case, Wang Ta-wang, was acquitted due to insufficient evidence, the court announced.