A senior Taiwanese military officer has been charged with corruption and harming state security. The officer took bribes from a Chinese agent to act as a spy and even signed a letter promising to surrender to China, CNN reported.
Taiwan has long battled against what it calls a sustained espionage campaign run by China, Reuters reported. Beijing views Taipei as a “sacred” part of its territory-- it has been trying to undermine Taiwan’s armed forces. Chinese war aircraft have, in recent times, crossed the 'median line' that runs down the Taiwan Strait.
If proven the army colonel has accepted bribes for over four years, a 12-year sentence awaits him, the prosecutors' office said. The office also said that the Chinese agent was also a retired Taiwanese army officer. The colonel has been identified as Hsiang Te-en
Taiwan’s defence ministry said, “This case highlights that the Chinese communists have become a serious threat against us when it comes to infiltrating, recruitment, collection of intelligence and theft of secrets."
. The officer reportedly asked the colonel, who was contemplating leaving the army, to try and stay in service so that he could rise in the ranks as a spy. Taiwan's defence ministry has said it would continue to cooperate with the investigation. It also added that it will continue to impart counter-intelligence education for officers and soldiers.
