Six Active and Retired Military Personnel Involved in Leakage of Classified Information Case Sentenced to 4.5 to 8.5 Years in First Instance
Six active and retired military personnel in Taiwan, including Wang Wen-hao and Yang Bo-chih, were sentenced to 4.5 to 8.5 years in prison in the first instance for being recruited to spy and collect military sensitive information. The case originated from a Hong Kong national, Ding Xiao-hu, who, under instructions from a mainland Chinese military intelligence unit, developed an organization in Taiwan. Ding Xiao-hu's case was dismissed due to his death, but the others were convicted. The Taiwan High Prosecutors Office will review the verdict and consider an appeal.
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- 📰 Published: April 15, 2026 at 11:01
- 🔍 Collected: April 15, 2026 at 11:31 (30 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 15, 2026 at 17:44 (6h 12m after Collected)
TAIPEI (CNA reporters Liu Shih-yi, Hsieh Chun-lin) – Six active and retired military personnel, including Wang Wen-hao and Yang Bo-chih, were involved in being recruited to spy and collect military sensitive information. The High Court today sentenced the six individuals to prison terms ranging from 4 years and 6 months to 8 years and 6 months in the first instance. Five of them are currently detained, and one was released on bail; none were present for the verdict.
In response, the Taiwan High Prosecutors Office stated that it would study the judgment upon receipt and consider whether to appeal.
The first-instance panel of the Taiwan High Court today ruled that the actions of Wang Wen-hao, Tan Chun-ming, Lu Fang-chi, Chiu Han-lin, and Yang Chien-hui constituted the crime of developing an organization for the mainland China region under Article 7, Paragraph 1, first part of the National Security Act. Yang Bo-chih was involved in leaking secrets under the Army, Navy, and Air Force Criminal Act. The six individuals were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 4 years and 6 months to 8 years and 6 months, with illicit gains of NT$80,000 to NT$500,000 to be confiscated. The verdict can be appealed.
The case originated from the Taipei City Investigation Office of the Investigation Bureau, which proactively discovered in 2024 that a Hong Kong national, Ding Xiao-hu, and Taiwanese national Chang Chih-wei, among others, were suspected of developing organizations for the Chinese Communist Party in Taiwan and spying and collecting classified information. During an internal investigation by the Political Warfare Bureau of the Ministry of National Defense, Major Yang Bo-chih's suspicious behavior was noticed. After reporting to national security agencies, the Investigation Bureau collected evidence and reported to the High Prosecutors Office and the Taipei District Prosecutors Office for investigation, coordinating with units such as the Military Police Command to take action.
The investigation found that Ding Xiao-hu, under instructions from the Nanning Workstation of the Liaison Department of the Political Work Department of the Central Military Commission of the Chinese Communist Party, repeatedly visited Taiwan under the guise of business or tourism to develop organizations and collect intelligence. He first recruited retired military officers Wang Wen-hao, Tan Chun-ming, Chang Chih-wei, and Ho Sheng-ying as core members, and then, through military connections, further contacted and developed active and retired military personnel, including Lu Fang-chi, Chiu Han-lin, Yang Chien-hui, and Yang Bo-chih.
Ding Xiao-hu recruited many people not only to collect classified information but also to attempt to influence active military personnel to adopt a passive non-resistance attitude in future cross-strait conflicts. The funds for related activities, totaling over NT$11.12 million, were remitted to Taiwan by Ding Xiao-hu and Chang Chih-wei through personal or company accounts, for organizational operations.
The Taiwan High Prosecutors Office indicted Ding Xiao-hu and six active and retired military personnel—Wang Wen-hao, Tan Chun-ming, Lu Fang-chi, Chiu Han-lin, Yang Chien-hui, and Yang Bo-chih—a total of seven defendants, in November last year, on charges of violating the National Security Act and other offenses, and transferred the case to the Taiwan High Court.
During the High Court's transfer and detention hearing, only some defendants admitted their offenses and expressed willingness to accept legal sanctions, while some defendants claimed illness and requested bail. The High Court determined that the seven individuals were highly suspected of violating the National Security Act and other offenses, and there was a risk of flight, so it ruled to detain all seven.
During the High Court's deliberation of the case, Ding Xiao-hu was released on medical parole due to illness and passed away in February this year. The High Court has ruled the public prosecution inadmissible for him, and the cases of the other six defendants continue to be heard. Among them, Yang Bo-chih was deemed to have no need for detention and was released on bail with electronic monitoring on April 1. The arguments in this case concluded recently, and the verdict was announced today.
Separately, the Taipei District Prosecutors Office indicted Ding Xiao-hu, Wang Wen-hao, and Chen Chun-an in November last year on charges of violating the Banking Act and the Money Laundering Control Act; defendants Chang Chih-wei and Ho Sheng-ying were not prosecuted due to their deaths. The Taipei District Court stated that Ding Xiao-hu passed away, and the public prosecution was ruled inadmissible on April 2, while the cases of the other two defendants continue to be heard. (Edited by Lin Shu-hui) 1150415
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In response, the Taiwan High Prosecutors Office stated that it would study the judgment upon receipt and consider whether to appeal.
The first-instance panel of the Taiwan High Court today ruled that the actions of Wang Wen-hao, Tan Chun-ming, Lu Fang-chi, Chiu Han-lin, and Yang Chien-hui constituted the crime of developing an organization for the mainland China region under Article 7, Paragraph 1, first part of the National Security Act. Yang Bo-chih was involved in leaking secrets under the Army, Navy, and Air Force Criminal Act. The six individuals were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 4 years and 6 months to 8 years and 6 months, with illicit gains of NT$80,000 to NT$500,000 to be confiscated. The verdict can be appealed.
The case originated from the Taipei City Investigation Office of the Investigation Bureau, which proactively discovered in 2024 that a Hong Kong national, Ding Xiao-hu, and Taiwanese national Chang Chih-wei, among others, were suspected of developing organizations for the Chinese Communist Party in Taiwan and spying and collecting classified information. During an internal investigation by the Political Warfare Bureau of the Ministry of National Defense, Major Yang Bo-chih's suspicious behavior was noticed. After reporting to national security agencies, the Investigation Bureau collected evidence and reported to the High Prosecutors Office and the Taipei District Prosecutors Office for investigation, coordinating with units such as the Military Police Command to take action.
The investigation found that Ding Xiao-hu, under instructions from the Nanning Workstation of the Liaison Department of the Political Work Department of the Central Military Commission of the Chinese Communist Party, repeatedly visited Taiwan under the guise of business or tourism to develop organizations and collect intelligence. He first recruited retired military officers Wang Wen-hao, Tan Chun-ming, Chang Chih-wei, and Ho Sheng-ying as core members, and then, through military connections, further contacted and developed active and retired military personnel, including Lu Fang-chi, Chiu Han-lin, Yang Chien-hui, and Yang Bo-chih.
Ding Xiao-hu recruited many people not only to collect classified information but also to attempt to influence active military personnel to adopt a passive non-resistance attitude in future cross-strait conflicts. The funds for related activities, totaling over NT$11.12 million, were remitted to Taiwan by Ding Xiao-hu and Chang Chih-wei through personal or company accounts, for organizational operations.
The Taiwan High Prosecutors Office indicted Ding Xiao-hu and six active and retired military personnel—Wang Wen-hao, Tan Chun-ming, Lu Fang-chi, Chiu Han-lin, Yang Chien-hui, and Yang Bo-chih—a total of seven defendants, in November last year, on charges of violating the National Security Act and other offenses, and transferred the case to the Taiwan High Court.
During the High Court's transfer and detention hearing, only some defendants admitted their offenses and expressed willingness to accept legal sanctions, while some defendants claimed illness and requested bail. The High Court determined that the seven individuals were highly suspected of violating the National Security Act and other offenses, and there was a risk of flight, so it ruled to detain all seven.
During the High Court's deliberation of the case, Ding Xiao-hu was released on medical parole due to illness and passed away in February this year. The High Court has ruled the public prosecution inadmissible for him, and the cases of the other six defendants continue to be heard. Among them, Yang Bo-chih was deemed to have no need for detention and was released on bail with electronic monitoring on April 1. The arguments in this case concluded recently, and the verdict was announced today.
Separately, the Taipei District Prosecutors Office indicted Ding Xiao-hu, Wang Wen-hao, and Chen Chun-an in November last year on charges of violating the Banking Act and the Money Laundering Control Act; defendants Chang Chih-wei and Ho Sheng-ying were not prosecuted due to their deaths. The Taipei District Court stated that Ding Xiao-hu passed away, and the public prosecution was ruled inadmissible on April 2, while the cases of the other two defendants continue to be heard. (Edited by Lin Shu-hui) 1150415
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FAQ
Who was convicted in this case?
Six active and retired military personnel, including Wang Wen-hao, Tan Chun-ming, Lu Fang-chi, Chiu Han-lin, Yang Chien-hui, and Yang Bo-chih, were convicted.
What happened to Ding Xiao-hu's case?
Ding Xiao-hu's case was dismissed due to his death from illness.