Taiwan charges retired air force colonel with spying for China

Prosecutors say accused tried to enlist a serving army officer to recruit spies for network on the island

Charges follow raids by the Ministry of Justice’s Investigation Bureau on his home and that of a Taiwanese army colonel

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Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen is seeking a second term. Photo: Reuters

Published: 7:30pm, 24 Dec 2019Updated: 7:41pm, 24 Dec 2019

A retired Taiwanese military officer has been accused of spying for the mainland with less than a month to go in a presidential election on the island dogged by claims of interference by Beijing.

Tu Yung-hsin, 67, a retired air force colonel, was charged by the New Taipei City District Prosecutor’s Office with violating the island’s security law by spying and helping develop an intelligence network for Beijing in Taiwan, the office said on Tuesday.

The charges follow raids in September by the Ministry of Justice’s Investigation Bureau on Tu’s home and that of a Taiwanese army colonel identified only by his surname Tsai.

After retiring and operating a business on the mainland in 2004, Tu was allegedly recruited by “Mr A” a section chief of the Central Military Commission’s Political Work Department.

The office said that between 2011 and September this year, Tu offered cash-strapped Tsai about NT$200,000 (US$6,600) in gifts for his wedding and to cover medical treatment for his mother.

“In 2017, the suspect told Tsai he could introduce him to ‘Mr A’ and arrange for Tsai to develop business in China after he retired,” a spokesman for the office said.

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