German journalist Jürgen Kremb released a research report in Taipei on Monday estimating that China has planted between 50,000 and 100,000 intelligence assets in Taiwan—far exceeding previous official and expert estimates. Kremb, who spent years reporting from Beijing for the Frankfurter Rundschau and Der Spiegel and authored a book on Wei Jingsheng, is currently a visiting scholar in Taiwan researching Chinese intelligence operations. His report, titled “War of Spies: How Chinese Intelligence Agencies Infiltrate Taiwan—With Implications for Europe,” was unveiled at Monday’s presentation.
While acknowledging the figure is difficult to verify, Kremb argued Taiwan’s National Security Bureau, which has estimated roughly 5,000 agents, has significantly undercounted the threat. His broader definition of “spies” includes deployed agents, local informants, and ordinary Taiwanese willing to provide intelligence under certain circumstances—comparable to Russia’s “throwaway agents.”
The report highlights Beijing’s use of economic dependency as a pressure tool, often through Taiwanese businesspeople, and notes a troubling rise in espionage cases within Taiwan’s military, frequently targeting information on U.S. weapons systems. Recruitment often begins innocuously via Telegram or LinkedIn before escalating through bribery or exploitation of personal vulnerabilities. Citing mainland sources, the report claims 180,000 Chinese personnel work on Taiwan-related intelligence across agencies including the United Front Work Department and Ministry of State Security.
Kremb also disclosed being surveilled by a suspected Chinese agent during a trip to Alishan last June. A woman with a northern Chinese accent, claiming to live in Denmark, aroused his suspicion; he later spotted her making a phone call, reminiscent of past interrogation experiences. He reported the incident to Taiwan’s Investigation Bureau, which confirmed her identity via surveillance footage—though she had already left Taiwan.
Source: Radio Free Asia, September 15, 2026
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/zhengzhi/2026/09/15/china-espionage-jurgenkremb/