Taiwan military intel officer, 'double agent' detained for espionage

TAIPEI (Kyodo) -- A Taiwanese military intelligence officer and an alleged double agent for China were in custody Tuesday as investigators probe the latest espionage scandal to hit Taiwan's defense establishment and assess the damage to its intelligence network.

The detained officer, identified by local media as Col. Lo Chi-cheng, allegedly transferred classified data over several years to a Taiwanese man linked to Taiwan's intelligence network and who has business interests in China.

The data was then allegedly passed on to Chinese intelligence, media reports said.

The two suspects were arrested Sunday and their homes searched after investigators witnessed the two men allegedly exchanging classified data in a Taipei street.

The Defense Ministry confirmed late Monday that the officer had been arrested, while ministry spokesman Yu Sy-tue told a press conference Tuesday that the case only had a limited impact on military intelligence activities.

Nonetheless, the Taipei-based China Times newspaper, whose editorial line strongly supports integration with China, described the case in its report as "probably the highest-level case of espionage involving the military in 20 years."

Local newspaper reports Tuesday were inconsistent on details of the case, including the content of the leaked intelligence and the name of the alleged double agent.

But reports that the data included names of Taiwan's agents in China were seemingly vindicated when Premier Wu Den-yih told the legislature Tuesday that the government has a duty of care and will do its best to bring the agents to Taiwan, the semiofficial Central News Agency reported.

Wu added, however, that the leaked list of names is four years old and that the government could "only do its best," CNA reported.

Taiwan has suffered several security breaches in its intelligence apparatus in recent years, including retired agents working for China and weapons information being sold to Beijing.

The latest incident coincides with an easing of tensions between Taipei and Beijing as economic relations flourish.

But growing Chinese support for military-to-military contact and political talks with Taiwan has not been reciprocated, with Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou saying such talks must wait until at least the next presidential term.

(Mainichi Japan) November 2, 2010