Taiwan Court Sentences Father-Son Duo for Leaking Military Secrets to China

In Taipei, Taiwan, a father and son, both surnamed Huang, have been sentenced to eight years in prison for leaking sensitive military information to China. The Taiwanese Supreme Court upheld their sentences on August 29, rejecting their final appeals, while ordering a retrial for their co-conspirators.

The Huangs first met Chinese intelligence officials in 2015 during a business trip to Xiamen. They were recruited into a spy ring aimed at undermining Taiwan’s national security. Upon returning to Taiwan, they recruited two military officers, Yeh from an air defense unit and Su from a missile unit, into their operation. These officers were coerced into signing documents pledging their loyalty to China.

The Huangs’ spy ring managed to obtain eight classified documents related to Taiwan’s Han Kuang military exercises, which are crucial to the island’s defense strategy. These documents were either physically transported to China or transmitted via encrypted messaging software. In exchange, the Huangs were paid NT $1.71 million (approximately USD 53,600), while Yeh and Su received NT $210,000 and NT $100,000, respectively.

The espionage case was part of broader efforts by Taiwan’s National Security Bureau to counter Chinese intelligence activities. In April, the Tainan branch of the Taiwan High Court found the Huangs guilty of violating several laws, including the National Security Act and anti-corruption legislation. Yeh and Su were sentenced to seven and six years in prison, respectively. However, the Supreme Court has ordered a new trial for Yeh and Su, reflecting the complexities of prosecuting espionage cases.

Taiwan’s government remains vigilant against such threats, given the critical role that military intelligence plays in maintaining the island’s security. The Han Kuang exercises are seen as a cornerstone of Taiwan’s defense strategy, making the leak of their details especially damaging.