3 ex-servicemen indicted for allegedly spying for China

Taipei, Oct. 1 (CNA) The Taiwan High Prosecutors Office's Kaohsiung Branch on Thursday indicted three former military personnel for allegedly collecting military secrets for China since 2020.

The three were identified by their surnames Chen (陳), Lu (盧), and Mao (毛). They were charged with offenses including violations of the National Security Act, Anti-Corruption Act and Classified National Security Information Protection Act, as well as the Criminal Code of the Armed Forces, according to a statement issued by prosecutors.

Prosecutors said Chen, who had retired from the Air Force, began receiving instructions and funding from officials at an intelligence agency under a provincial committee of the Communist Party of China in late 2020.

Chen allegedly obtained confidential military information, including tank specifications and details of the Han Kuang military exercises, from Lu, who was still serving in the Army at the time, prosecutors said.

In 2024, Chen allegedly traveled to Zhuhai, China, with Mao, who had also retired from the military, to attend a banquet with Chinese intelligence officials with whom Chen had been in contact. Prosecutors said Chen sought to establish an organization for China.

During the banquet, Chen allegedly persuaded Mao to contact serving military personnel and collect confidential military information from them, prosecutors said.

In June 2026, the Kaohsiung Military Police, Tainan Military Police, Pingtung County Police Bureau's Criminal Investigation Corps and the Ministry of National Defense's Political Warfare Bureau reported the case to the High Prosecutors Office, which took charge of the investigation, prosecutors said.

The investigation concluded Thursday after prosecutors collected evidence, conducted digital forensics, examined and verified statements from witnesses and defendants, and reviewed relevant financial transaction records, prosecutors said.