Taiwan’s National Security Bureau released a report on January 13 titled “Analysis of Espionage Infiltration Methods.” The report stated that the number of individuals prosecuted for espionage in Taiwan increased from 48 in 2023 to 64 in 2024, showing a significant rise compared to 2021 and 2022. The number of espionage cases prosecuted also surged from three in 2021, to five in 2022, to 14 in 2023, and to 15 in 2024.
Among those prosecuted in 2024, 15 were retired military personnel, accounting for 23 percent of the total cases, while 28 were active-duty personnel, accounting for 43 percent.
The report identified five primary infiltration channels used by Beijing in 2024:
- Criminal gangs
- Underground money laundering networks
- Front companies
- Temple organizations
- Civil associations
Additionally, the report detailed four main espionage tactics employed by Beijing:
- Recruitment of active-duty soldiers by retired military personnel
- Online recruitment
- Financial bribery
- Debt coercion
The report accused the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) of:
- Colluding with criminal gangs to establish armed internal supporters within Taiwan, including recruiting gang members to raise the Chinese flag and engage in sabotage if China launches a military invasion.
- Using gang members to recruit retired military personnel and form “sniper teams” to target military facilities and foreign institutions in Taiwan.
- Encouraging retired military personnel to set up shell companies, underground banks, and gambling operations, coercing active-duty military officers into spying, signing loyalty pledges to the CCP, or even defecting with military helicopters.
- Funding temple organizations in Taiwan, using religious activities to connect with active-duty soldiers and persuading them to wear military uniforms while holding the Chinese flag to record “surrender videos” or hand over classified defense plans.
- Organizing all-expenses-paid trips to China for local village chiefs during Taiwan’s elections, attempting to influence voter support for specific candidates, and, manipulating social media by spreading false news and poll data to sway election outcomes.
- Leveraging social media platforms such as Facebook, Line (a popular social media used by Taiwanese), and LinkedIn to offer online loans to active and retired military personnel, then pressuring them to provide classified information or recruit others to settle their debts. Payments were allegedly made through cryptocurrency to evade detection.
Source: VOA, January 13, 2024
https://www.voachinese.com/a/taiwan-s-spy-agency-says-china-is-working-with-gangs-shell-companies-to-gain-intelligence-on-taiwan-20250113/7934728.html