Taiwan’s defense ministry is vowing to strengthen its anti-espionage efforts after a Taiwanese lieutenant colonel was accused of spying for China.
The suspected spying case comes at a time when relations between Taiwan and China are hitting rock bottom. Beijing sees Taiwan as part of its own territory and has stepped up its military and political pressure on the island nation.
The accused lieutenant colonel reportedly worked in the air force and special forces in northern Taiwan, according to the part-state Taiwanese news agency CNA. He is alleged to have collected intelligence information and passed it on to China. The man is also said to have tried to recruit active and retired Taiwanese military personnel into a spy network, according to CNA.
Taiwan and China have been spying on each other since the end of the civil war between Chinese Nationalists and Communists in 1949, which led to the formation of Taiwan. Several high-ranking Taiwanese military personnel have been accused in recent years of spying for Beijing.