Supreme Court upholds sentences in China 'psychological warfare' case

Taipei, June 5 (CNA) Taiwan's Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld prison sentences for 10 defendants, including a six-year, eight-month term for temple leader Lee Hui-hsin (李慧馨), who was convicted of recruiting active-duty and retired military personnel to produce "psychological warfare surrender videos" under instructions from China.

The court also affirmed sentences ranging from six months to five years and eight months for nine co-defendants.

Lee, the head of a temple in New Taipei's Luzhou District, used "religious exchanges" to travel to China and receive assignments there to develop a pro-China organization in Taiwan, according to the Taiwan High Prosecutors Office.

Prosecutors said Lee "used the temple and connections with organized crime" to recruit current and former military personnel who had "financial needs" in 2023.

She persuaded them to film "surrender videos" -- propaganda likely intended to promote an image of disloyalty among Taiwanese military personnel in service of Beijing's stated intention to annex Taiwan.

The defendants allegedly handed over confidential military documents and participated in producing the psychological warfare videos while wearing uniforms and holding the flag of the People's Republic of China, the office said.

Lee confessed her crimes during the investigation and trial, qualifying her for a shorter sentence, according to the Taiwan High Court.

The 10 defendants were formally indicted on Oct. 23 last year, according to prosecutors, who said that the defendants should receive "the most severe punishment under the law" for "betraying one's comrades-in-arms and betraying one's country."

A statement issued by the Ministry of National Defense (MND) in October last year said the scheme was first uncovered through reports by military personnel in October 2023 and again in March 2024.

This led to a joint investigation by security agencies including the Criminal Investigation Bureau, the Military Police Command, and the National Security Bureau, the MND said.

In February 2025, the Taiwan High Court convicted Lee of five offenses, including developing an organization for a foreign power, bribery and violating national security laws.

Five active-duty military members -- defendants surnamed Chang (張), Lin (林), Chen (陳), Liu (劉), and Wu (吳) -- were also convicted by the same court of accepting bribes and violating their duties by cooperating with Lee to record "psychological warfare surrender videos" and deliver military secrets.

A defendant surnamed Lee Yao (李姚), who is still in active service, was sentenced to two years and eight months after confessing and naming accomplices.

A retired serviceman surnamed Peng (彭) received four years and eight months for offenses including espionage and bribery.

A defendant surnamed Chen (陳), who was not a soldier, was sentenced to two years and two months.

One of the defendants surnamed Chen (陳), a retired military serviceman, was sentenced to six months for filming presidential security information and was not granted a fine in lieu of prison time.

Prosecutors sought convictions under Articles 2 and 7 of the National Security Act, Articles 109, 111 and 132 of the Criminal Code, Articles 4 and 11 of the Anti-Corruption Act, Articles 20 and 22 of the Criminal Code of the Armed Forces, and Articles 32 and 34 of the Classified National Security Information Protection Act.

The Supreme Court's ruling on Wednesday is final.