Taipei, Dec 6 (EFE).- The Taiwanese authorities ordered the arrest of four military police officers for allegedly leaking sensitive information to China, in the latest case of espionage that has shaken the island’s armed forces, judicial sources reported Friday.
In a statement, the Taipei District Prosecutor’s Office said it had charged four military personnel of breaking the National Security Act and selling state secrets to China.
According to the investigators, the accused sent photographs of confidential documents to China and tried to recruit other members of the armed forces to join them, for which they received a payment of NT$1.84 million (about $56,810).
Following the arrests, Presidential Office spokesperson Wen Lii expressed concern about the case and stated that the relevant agencies would fully cooperate with subsequent judicial investigations.
Lii said the accused would face consequences as per the law, and stressed on enhancing counter-espionage and security measures.
For its part, the defense ministry said the Chinese authorities had never ceased its attempts to undermine Taiwan, but refused to comment specifically on this case.
This is not the first case of espionage involving the Taiwanese Armed Forces: on Aug. 22, eight people were sentenced to between 18 months and 13 years in prison for gathering intelligence for China.
Taiwan has been self-governed since 1949, when the National Revolutionary Army of the Kuomintang withdrew to the island after its defeat at the hands of Communist troops in the civil war.
Meanwhile, China has claimed sovereignty over Taiwan, considering it a rebel province, and not ruled out the use of force for its “reunification.” EFE
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