Shannon Brandao
(Right Click on Article's Hyperlink Above to Open Article in a New Tab...)
"BBC [excerpt]: At least 16 people have been accused of #spying for #China since the start of the year, compared with the 44 #espionage cases registered by #Taiwan's Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau between 2013 and 2019.
. . . Taiwan is an easy target for Chinese spies, says Grant Newsham, a retired US Marine Corps colonel who has served for decades in the #IndoPacific.
Proximity to China and the fact that most Taiwanese speak the Chinese language helps, but the island is also 'not very strict' about punishing espionage, he adds. 'This has an effect on willingness to spy for China, if you think the "downside risks" aren't so serious.'
Mr Newsham also says Taiwan did not have a robust system for restricting access to classified information until recently.
'If you're not controlling sensitive and secret information very well… You should expect any competent foreign intelligence service to get access to it.
That's played out in Taiwan for a long, long time.'
Experts and Taiwanese officials say espionage is one of many ways in which China has tried to interfere or exert influence on the island.
Beijing has long conducted a 'war without gunfire' against Taiwan, Tsai Ming-Yen, the director-general of Taiwan's National Security Bureau, said last week.
China sends ever-rising numbers of fighter jets into Taiwan's air defence zone, has rebuked its leaders for overseas visits that bordered on diplomacy, and banned imports of Taiwanese pineapples, mangoes and certain types of fish.
Many expect more of this as the #election in January draws closer. Mr Tsai has also accused the Chinese government of attempting to meddle in the election through #cyberattacks.
January's vote is significant as it pits the incumbent Democratic Progressive's Party (DPP), which considers Taiwan to be independent and sovereign, against at least three opposition candidates who advocate maintaining the status quo by restarting dialogue with Beijing. And a win for the DPP's candidate and current vice-president William Lai, who Beijing has said 'clings stubbornly to the separatist position', would pose a challenge for China's unification plans.
Taiwanese spy catchers appear to be paying the closest attention to the #military. Most of the alleged spies are connected to it, or are accused of attempting to recruit soldiers.
In July, a diabolo instructor, Lu Chi-hsien, and four others were detained for allegedly setting up a spy network. Mr Lu is accused of recruiting hard-up soldiers into the network by focusing on pawnshops, money lenders and loan-shark operations near army bases. A sixth suspect, Kuo Po-ting, is the younger brother of Taiwanese singer and celebrity Kuo Shu-yao.
Experts believe investigations into Taiwan's businessmen would lead to just as many cases. A Taiwanese businessman and his son were charged in July for recruiting two soldiers to help them collect confidential information."
#news #geopolitics