Verdict in Espionage Case Involving 6 Active and Retired Military Personnel to be Announced by High Court on April 15

This case originated from a proactive investigation by the Taipei City Field Office of the Investigation Bureau in 2024, which uncovered that a Hong Kong-based mainland Chinese man, Ting Hsiao-hu, along with Taiwanese national Chang Chih-wei and others, were suspected of developing an organization and spying for the CCP in Taiwan. The Political Warfare Bureau of the Ministry of National Defense identified suspicious activities by Major Yang Po-chih during an internal review and reported it to national security units. The Investigation Bureau then collected evidence and, under the direction of the High Prosecutors Office and the Taipei District Prosecutors Office, launched an operation with the Military Police Command. The investigation found that Ting Hsiao-hu, under instructions from the Nanning Work Station of the Liaison Bureau of the Political Work Department of the CCP's Central Military Commission, traveled to Taiwan multiple times under the guise of business or tourism to develop an organization and conduct intelligence gathering. He first recruited retired military officers Wang Wen-hao, Tan Chun-ming, Chang Chih-wei, and Ho Sheng-ying as core members. Through their military connections, he further contacted and developed active and retired military personnel, including Lu Fang-chi, Chiu Han-lin, Yang Chien-hui, and Yang Po-chih. Ting recruited multiple individuals not only to collect secrets but also to attempt to influence active military personnel to adopt a passive, non-resistant attitude in a future cross-strait conflict. The funds for these activities, totaling over NT$11.12 million, were funneled into Taiwan by Ting and Chang through personal or company accounts managed by Chen Chun-an for the organization's operations. The Taiwan High Prosecutors Office indicted Ting Hsiao-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 Po-chih—a total of seven defendants, for violating the National Security Act and other charges, and transferred the case to the Taiwan High Court. The Taiwan High Court held a detention hearing where the judge heard from the prosecution, defense, and the seven defendants. Some defendants admitted to the charges and expressed willingness to accept legal punishment, while others claimed illness and requested bail. The High Court determined that the seven were highly suspected of violating the National Security Act, posed a flight risk, and ordered their detention. Considering Yang Chien-hui's full confession and the lack of risk of collusion, her incommunicado detention was lifted, while the other six remained incommunicado. During the trial, Ting Hsiao-hu was granted medical parole due to illness and passed away in February of this year. The High Court has dismissed the public prosecution against him. The case against the other six defendants continued, and closing arguments were recently concluded. The verdict will be announced on April 15. Separately, the Taipei District Prosecutors Office has indicted Wang Wen-hao and Chen Chun-an for money laundering violations under the Banking Act and Money Laundering Control Act. The case is currently being tried by the Taipei District Court. The money laundering charges against Chang Chih-wei and Ho Sheng-ying were dropped by the prosecution due to their deaths.