By Smartencyclopedia News with Agencies

Taipei, October 25, 2024 — Taiwan’s High Prosecutors Office has indicted ten individuals, including a New Taipei temple leader, on charges of espionage on behalf of China. The indictment follows an investigation that ran from June to September this year, during which authorities uncovered an alleged spy network centered around a temple in Luzhou District.

According to the Taiwan High Prosecutors Office, the key suspect in the case is a woman surnamed Lee (李), who serves as the chairperson of the temple. Authorities allege Lee has connections with criminal gangs in Taiwan, which she leveraged to recruit both retired and active military personnel struggling with financial issues. The recruits, many of whom were regular worshippers at the temple, were reportedly enticed to collect military intelligence for China in exchange for monetary rewards.

Prosecutors allege that Lee required recruits to submit copies of their national identification cards and perform symbolic gestures, including filming themselves in military attire while holding a Chinese flag and pledging surrender should a conflict arise. According to authorities, Lee promised recruits additional compensation if they could bring others into the spy ring.

The indictment states that three of the suspects, active-duty military personnel surnamed Lin (林), Chen (陳), and Liu (劉), allegedly provided sensitive military information to China. The remaining suspects were reportedly paid to participate in the filmed displays of allegiance to Beijing.

Prosecutors condemned the actions of the suspects, highlighting the failure of those involved, both active and retired military personnel, to uphold their national loyalty. The accused now faces charges under multiple laws, including the National Security Act, the Criminal Code of the Armed Forces, the Classified National Security Information Protection Act, and the Anti-Corruption Act.

This case marks one of the most recent and significant instances in Taiwan’s ongoing efforts to counter-espionage threats from China, as tensions between Taipei and Beijing continue to escalate.