Accused held senior positions with Democratic Progressive party including one who worked for Lai Ching-te, Taiwan’s president
Taiwan prosecutors have charged four former staffers in the ruling Democratic Progressive party with spying for China while they worked in senior positions.
The four include a former aide to Lai Ching-te, when he was vice-president and for a time during his current presidency, and a senior staffer to Joseph Wu, then foreign minister and now national security chief.
They have been accused of sharing state secrets with China over a prolonged period of time, including “important and sensitive diplomatic information” that significantly harmed national security, prosecutors alleged in a statement. One of the accused, who worked for Lai and earlier a Taipei City councillor, is accused of transmitting information to China “via a specific messaging app”. Other alleged offences include money laundering.
Prosecutors are seeking prison sentences ranging from five to more than 18 years, and the confiscation of more than NT$8.3m (£205,000/US$277,000) in illicit gains.
