Reporter Lin Chen-yu Indicted for Espionage, Facing 12-Year Sentence; Tsai Ming-yen: Average Sentence for Espionage Cases Rises to 6 Years and 2 Months
Zhongtian reporter Lin Chen-yu faces a 12-year sentence for alleged espionage. National Security Bureau Director-General Tsai Ming-yen announced that the average sentence for espionage cases has increased from 1 year in 2020 to 6 years and 2 months in 2025, attributing this to a robust whole-of-government joint defense system. Tsai also discussed his advance visit to Eswatini, emphasizing its role in security preparations for President Lai''s visit and deterring potential disruptions from Chinese expatriates, as well as combating fraud groups.
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- 📰 Published: May 7, 2026 at 12:48
- 🔍 Collected: May 7, 2026 at 13:01 (13 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 7, 2026 at 13:19 (17 min after Collected)
Central News Agency (Reporter Wu Shu-wei, Taipei, 7th) Zhongtian reporter Lin Chen-yu was indicted by prosecutors, facing a 12-year sentence, for allegedly receiving funds from foreign forces to produce videos on specific topics and engaging in bribery. National Security Bureau Director-General Tsai Ming-yen stated today that national security, prosecutorial, and military security agencies have established a whole-of-government joint defense system to actively investigate espionage cases. The average sentence for espionage cases has now reached 6 years and 2 months.
The Legislative Yuan''s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee today reviewed the 2026 central government general budget proposal regarding the public and confidential expenditures of the National Security Bureau; Tsai Ming-yen accepted media interviews before entering the meeting room this morning.
Regarding Zhongtian reporter Lin Chen-yu''s alleged involvement in receiving funds from foreign forces to produce videos on specific topics and bribery, for which prosecutors sought a 12-year sentence, Tsai Ming-yen stated that he respects the investigation process and results and is not suitable to comment publicly on individual cases. In fact, most espionage cases reported by the media are investigated by national security intelligence agencies, which gather concrete evidence after receiving initial intelligence, and then transfer them to prosecutorial and investigative agencies for further investigation and scrutiny.
Tsai Ming-yen stated that over the past five years, the indictment rate for national security cases transferred from national security intelligence agencies to prosecutorial agencies has been as high as 96%, and the conviction rate for cases transferred from prosecutorial agencies to courts has also been as high as 85%. Therefore, in recent years, national security intelligence agencies, prosecutorial agencies, military security agencies, and investigative units have established a whole-of-government joint defense system to actively investigate espionage cases.
Tsai Ming-yen explained that the average sentence for espionage cases was only 1 year in 2020, but by 2025, the average sentence for espionage cases had reached 6 years and 2 months. Therefore, the National Security Bureau will actively provide relevant information on the patterns of espionage cases to prosecutors and courts through various national security seminars for their reference.
President Lai''s visit to Eswatini was once postponed due to neighboring countries canceling flight permits. The National Security Bureau''s announcement of Tsai Ming-yen''s advance visit to Eswatini before President Lai''s postponement became a focus of public discussion.
Tsai Ming-yen stated that it is routine for the Director-General of the National Security Bureau to conduct advance visits to countries where the President will visit, and the national security team has a complete plan. He went to the front line to conduct relevant advance visits, and the King and Deputy Prime Minister of Eswatini also publicly received him and released information on Eswatini''s official website. Local media reported his visit on the front page. The main purpose was to use his personal visit to allow Eswatini to demonstrate its welcome to President Lai''s visit and highlight the friendly relations between the two countries.
Tsai Ming-yen stated that his identity is, on one hand, the head of national intelligence, and in intelligence work, he must promote relevant cooperation very discreetly behind the scenes. However, he also has another identity as the commander of the Special Service Center, and in special service operations, he is on the front line to prepare for security. Just like the security preparation plans for previous presidential elections, there will be formation ceremonies and equipment displays. The main purpose is to let all sectors understand the achievements of security preparations.
Tsai Ming-yen stated that his visit to Eswatini this time was also to deter possible disruptive activities by about 1,000 Chinese expatriates in the area. Taiwan also cooperated with Eswatini to combat Chinese fraud groups there, arresting over 200 Chinese suspects. The main purpose was to achieve a deterrent effect and ensure President Lai''s visit went smoothly. President Lai also highly affirmed the performance of the national security team yesterday. (Editor: Zhai Sijia) 1150507
The Legislative Yuan''s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee today reviewed the 2026 central government general budget proposal regarding the public and confidential expenditures of the National Security Bureau; Tsai Ming-yen accepted media interviews before entering the meeting room this morning.
Regarding Zhongtian reporter Lin Chen-yu''s alleged involvement in receiving funds from foreign forces to produce videos on specific topics and bribery, for which prosecutors sought a 12-year sentence, Tsai Ming-yen stated that he respects the investigation process and results and is not suitable to comment publicly on individual cases. In fact, most espionage cases reported by the media are investigated by national security intelligence agencies, which gather concrete evidence after receiving initial intelligence, and then transfer them to prosecutorial and investigative agencies for further investigation and scrutiny.
Tsai Ming-yen stated that over the past five years, the indictment rate for national security cases transferred from national security intelligence agencies to prosecutorial agencies has been as high as 96%, and the conviction rate for cases transferred from prosecutorial agencies to courts has also been as high as 85%. Therefore, in recent years, national security intelligence agencies, prosecutorial agencies, military security agencies, and investigative units have established a whole-of-government joint defense system to actively investigate espionage cases.
Tsai Ming-yen explained that the average sentence for espionage cases was only 1 year in 2020, but by 2025, the average sentence for espionage cases had reached 6 years and 2 months. Therefore, the National Security Bureau will actively provide relevant information on the patterns of espionage cases to prosecutors and courts through various national security seminars for their reference.
President Lai''s visit to Eswatini was once postponed due to neighboring countries canceling flight permits. The National Security Bureau''s announcement of Tsai Ming-yen''s advance visit to Eswatini before President Lai''s postponement became a focus of public discussion.
Tsai Ming-yen stated that it is routine for the Director-General of the National Security Bureau to conduct advance visits to countries where the President will visit, and the national security team has a complete plan. He went to the front line to conduct relevant advance visits, and the King and Deputy Prime Minister of Eswatini also publicly received him and released information on Eswatini''s official website. Local media reported his visit on the front page. The main purpose was to use his personal visit to allow Eswatini to demonstrate its welcome to President Lai''s visit and highlight the friendly relations between the two countries.
Tsai Ming-yen stated that his identity is, on one hand, the head of national intelligence, and in intelligence work, he must promote relevant cooperation very discreetly behind the scenes. However, he also has another identity as the commander of the Special Service Center, and in special service operations, he is on the front line to prepare for security. Just like the security preparation plans for previous presidential elections, there will be formation ceremonies and equipment displays. The main purpose is to let all sectors understand the achievements of security preparations.
Tsai Ming-yen stated that his visit to Eswatini this time was also to deter possible disruptive activities by about 1,000 Chinese expatriates in the area. Taiwan also cooperated with Eswatini to combat Chinese fraud groups there, arresting over 200 Chinese suspects. The main purpose was to achieve a deterrent effect and ensure President Lai''s visit went smoothly. President Lai also highly affirmed the performance of the national security team yesterday. (Editor: Zhai Sijia) 1150507