Taiwan Military Officer Han Charged for Leaking Secrets to China
A lieutenant in Taiwan’s military police, identified as Han, has been charged with corruption, breaking national security laws, and leaking classified military documents to a Chinese netizen. Han sold cyber warfare documents for cryptocurrency worth over NTD 260,000 (approximately USD 8,105).
According to prosecutors in Kaohsiung’s Ciaotou District, Han first contacted the Chinese buyer online in 2022 to repay a loan. By 2023, he enlisted the help of a former company commander, Lin, who provided access to the military intranet. Han transmitted seven confidential documents, including critical information related to Taiwan’s cyber warfare defenses, to the buyer.
Han received over 8,000 units of the cryptocurrency ‘Tether’ for these documents, which he converted into local currency. The charges against Han include corruption and violations of national security laws, while Lin faces accusations of leaking state secrets. Prosecutors are seeking a severe penalty for Han due to the gravity of the offenses.
This case highlights ongoing concerns about espionage and the vulnerability of military and state secrets in Taiwan, especially amidst heightened tensions with China. Taiwan’s government has emphasized the need for stringent measures to safeguard national security and prevent similar breaches in the future. The incident also raises questions about the effectiveness of Taiwan’s internal security protocols and potential vulnerabilities within the military infrastructure.
Doubts Revealed
Taiwan -: Taiwan is an island near China. It has its own government and military, but China claims it as part of its territory.
Military Officer -: A military officer is a person who holds a position of authority in the armed forces. They help protect their country.
Corruption -: Corruption means doing something dishonest or illegal, especially by someone in power, like taking bribes.
Classified documents -: Classified documents are important papers that contain secret information. Only certain people are allowed to see them.
Cyber warfare -: Cyber warfare involves using computers and the internet to attack or defend against other countries’ computer systems.
Cryptocurrency -: Cryptocurrency is a type of digital money that exists only online. Bitcoin is a famous example.
NTD -: NTD stands for New Taiwan Dollar, which is the money used in Taiwan.
USD -: USD stands for United States Dollar, which is the money used in the United States.
Intranet -: An intranet is a private network used within an organization, like a company or the military, to share information securely.
Espionage -: Espionage means spying to get secret information, usually for a government or military purpose.
Tensions with China -: Tensions with China means that there are disagreements and conflicts between Taiwan and China, which can sometimes lead to serious problems.
