A retired captain and three active-duty air force and navy officers have been detained in Taiwan on suspicion of espionage for Beijing, the island’s central news agency reported.
Taiwan’s top prosecutor’s office in Kaohsiung City reportedly questioned seven people on January 3th, allegedly leading to evidence of their possible involvement in espionage. After being questioned, the three suspects were released on bail, while the other four were detained.
Among those detained is a retired captain, who the agency said began doing business in mainland China in 2013 after retiring from the Air Force.
“Then he was recruited by the Chinese side as a spy. Using his connections in the [Taiwan] Armed Forces, he helped recruit active officers from the Air Force and Navy,” the agency wrote, citing the Prosecutor’s Office.
According to the Prosecutor’s Office, the officer recruited at least six Taiwanese soldiers, for which he received a reward from Beijing of between 6,500 and 22,800 dollars for each one, the agency said.
