Former Military News Agency Lieutenant Colonel Kong Fan-chia's Attempted Espionage for China Unsuccessful, Sentenced to 5 Years and 4 Months
Former Lieutenant Colonel Kong Fan-chia of the Military News Agency was recruited by officials from the Xiamen Municipal People's Government of the Communist Party of China while in active service, receiving US dollars and RMB. He promised to introduce active and retired military personnel to travel to mainland China or other third countries to create opportunities for contact and recruitment for the CCP. He had invited an officer surnamed Wang and another retired military personnel surnamed Wang, but some attempts were unsuccessful. The Taiwan High Court overturned the original judgment and sentenced Kong Fan-chia to 5 years and 4 months in prison for corruption and violating national security laws. The Supreme Court rejected the appeal, and the case is now final.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 7, 2026 at 12:19
- 🔍 Collected: April 7, 2026 at 13:00 (41 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 15, 2026 at 12:34 (191h 34m after Collected)
News from the second instance of the Taiwan High Court in June last year indicated that Kong Fan-chia, a former lieutenant colonel of the Ministry of National Defense's Military News Agency, was recruited by officials from the Xiamen Municipal People's Government of the Communist Party of China while in active service. Between November 2006 and April 2008, he received US$6,000 and US$5,700 respectively, promising to introduce active and retired military personnel to travel to mainland China or other third countries to create opportunities for the CCP to recruit, make contact, or obtain military secrets.
The High Court stated that after Kong Fan-chia retired on August 17, 2012, he received 60,000 RMB (approximately NT$280,000) from CCP officials between 2014 and 2016. In 2017, he invited an officer surnamed Wang to travel to mainland China and other third countries, but the officer declined, making the attempt unsuccessful.
The High Court said that in April and May 2019, Kong Fan-chia invited another retired military personnel surnamed Wang to travel to mainland China and accompanied him to mainland China to be hosted by CCP officials. In 2020, he intended to arrange for Wang to meet with CCP officials abroad again and receive work guidance, but it was canceled due to the epidemic. Kong Fan-chia later sent the contact information of the CCP officials to Wang, but Wang did not actively contact them, making the attempt unsuccessful.
The High Court believed that the original judgment, which found Kong Fan-chia began developing organizations during his active service and only committed the crime of corruption and bribery, and sentenced him to 5 years and 6 months, was clearly erroneous. Considering his confession and the return of illicit gains, his sentence was reduced. On June 24 last year, the original judgment was revoked, and he was re-sentenced to 5 years and 4 months in prison for violating duties and receiving bribes under the Anti-Corruption Act and for attempting to develop organizations for mainland China with intent to endanger national security under the National Security Act.
After the prosecutor appealed, the Supreme Court ruled that the second instance judgment had no errors and the sentencing was appropriate. The appeal was rejected on April 1, and the case is now final. (Edited by Wu Su-jou) 1150407
The High Court stated that after Kong Fan-chia retired on August 17, 2012, he received 60,000 RMB (approximately NT$280,000) from CCP officials between 2014 and 2016. In 2017, he invited an officer surnamed Wang to travel to mainland China and other third countries, but the officer declined, making the attempt unsuccessful.
The High Court said that in April and May 2019, Kong Fan-chia invited another retired military personnel surnamed Wang to travel to mainland China and accompanied him to mainland China to be hosted by CCP officials. In 2020, he intended to arrange for Wang to meet with CCP officials abroad again and receive work guidance, but it was canceled due to the epidemic. Kong Fan-chia later sent the contact information of the CCP officials to Wang, but Wang did not actively contact them, making the attempt unsuccessful.
The High Court believed that the original judgment, which found Kong Fan-chia began developing organizations during his active service and only committed the crime of corruption and bribery, and sentenced him to 5 years and 6 months, was clearly erroneous. Considering his confession and the return of illicit gains, his sentence was reduced. On June 24 last year, the original judgment was revoked, and he was re-sentenced to 5 years and 4 months in prison for violating duties and receiving bribes under the Anti-Corruption Act and for attempting to develop organizations for mainland China with intent to endanger national security under the National Security Act.
After the prosecutor appealed, the Supreme Court ruled that the second instance judgment had no errors and the sentencing was appropriate. The appeal was rejected on April 1, and the case is now final. (Edited by Wu Su-jou) 1150407
FAQ
What was Kong Fan-chia sentenced for?
Kong Fan-chia was sentenced for being recruited by officials from the Xiamen Municipal People's Government of the Communist Party of China while in active service, receiving bribes, and attempting to develop organizations for mainland China, although unsuccessful, he was still convicted of corruption and related national security crimes.
What was Kong Fan-chia's final sentence?
Kong Fan-chia was ultimately sentenced to 5 years and 4 months in prison, and this judgment was finalized after review by the Supreme Court.