Taipei Court Sentences Retired Officers for Chinese Spy Ring

Three retired Military Intelligence Bureau officers have been sentenced for spying for China, with sentences ranging from 10 to 18 months. They were found guilty of forming a spy ring and leaking sensitive information. The verdicts can be appealed, and one individual was acquitted.

The Taipei District Court has sentenced three retired officers from Taiwan's Military Intelligence Bureau (MIB) to prison for their roles in a Chinese spy ring, according to Taiwan News. The court handed down sentences ranging from 10 to 18 months. A fourth individual was found not guilty.

Prosecutors alleged that the three convicted—Former Major General Yueh Chih-chung, retired Colonel Chang Chao-jan, and ex-Colonel Chou Tien-tzu—collected sensitive information for China. They were reportedly lured by business benefits and free trips. A national security official in Guangdong instructed them to form the spy ring.

The suspects were charged with violating the National Security Act and the National Intelligence Work Act. The Taiwanese Supreme Court also recently sentenced a father and son to eight years in prison for espionage, involving the annual Han Kuang military drills.

(With inputs from agencies.)