Taiwan has reported an increase in espionage cases allegedly linked to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The number of individuals prosecuted for spying nearly quadrupling over the past three years.
According to a recent report from Taiwan’s National Security Bureau (NSB), 64 people were prosecuted in 2024 for allegedly aiding Beijing in its intelligence-gathering efforts, a significant rise from the 48 cases in 2023 and just 10 in 2022.
The NSB has identified active and retired military personnel as prime targets for Chinese infiltration.
Nearly two-thirds of the defendants prosecuted in 2024 were either current members or veterans of Taiwan’s armed forces.
This trend reveals the CCP’s strategic focus on Taiwan’s military infrastructure, as the self-governed island continues to resist Beijing’s territorial claims.
The NSB report outlined various sophisticated tactics allegedly employed by the CCP to compromise Taiwan’s national security.
These methods include leveraging criminal gangs to entrap military personnel with financial difficulties, often by offering interest-free loans in exchange for classified information. The gangs are also accused of forming sniper teams tasked with identifying and targeting high-ranking officials, military installations, and foreign agencies in Taiwan.
Religious organizations have not been spared from Beijing’s espionage campaigns. Some temples have reportedly been used as intermediaries to approach soldiers during religious events. Once compromised, the soldiers are said to have been coerced into providing sensitive military data or appearing in propaganda videos pledging loyalty to the CCP.
The infiltration extends to the digital realm, where Chinese operatives have allegedly exploited social media platforms such as Facebook, Line, and LinkedIn to recruit Taiwanese citizens.
Cryptocurrency payments are often utilized to evade financial scrutiny, while shell companies and underground casinos are used as fronts for espionage activities.
Recent court cases highlight the alarming scale of the problem. In one instance, seven former military officers were indicted for providing sensitive information, including photographs and GPS coordinates of Taiwan’s military installations, to contacts in mainland China.
One defendant, Chu Hung-yi, a politician and chairman of the Fukang Alliance party, was accused of seeking funding from Chinese sources to support his campaign efforts. Prosecutors allege he received substantial sums via underground money transfers and social media apps.
Another case involved a lieutenant colonel who conspired with an ex-military officer to defect to the CCP, planning to deliver a CH-47 Chinook helicopter to mainland China. Both individuals were implicated in a broader plot to sabotage Taiwan’s defenses during a potential Chinese invasion.
The NSB report also shed light on Beijing’s broader efforts to manipulate Taiwan’s democratic processes. Alleged tactics include disinformation campaigns, financial support for pro-Beijing candidates, and outreach to local officials through sponsored visits to China.
China has long claimed Taiwan as its territory and has ramped up military and political pressure on the island, including through frequent military drills and the deployment of surveillance balloons. Despite these actions, Taiwan has remained steadfast in its rejection of Beijing’s sovereignty claims, vowing to defend its democracy against authoritarian encroachment.
Beijing’s Taiwan Affairs Office has not commented on the allegations outlined in the NSB report. Meanwhile, Taiwan’s government has reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding national security and democracy, warning of the ongoing threat posed by CCP espionage.
As Taiwan continues to face this growing challenge, the island remains a flashpoint in the broader geopolitical struggle between authoritarianism and democratic resilience.