Taiwan's National Security Bureau (NSB) has released a report detailing China's infiltration strategies. The report highlights Beijing's efforts to recruit active service members through military veterans. The number of espionage prosecutions in Taiwan increased from 16 in 2021 to 64 in 2024.
The NSB identified government agencies, local associations, and military units as targets. In 2024, 15 military veterans and 28 active service members were prosecuted, making up 23% and 43% of cases, respectively. China reportedly uses criminal gangs, local temples, and civilian organizations to establish connections and recruit personnel.
Chinese operatives often use retired military personnel to recruit active members, offering loans or exploiting debts in exchange for intelligence. During election campaigns, China organized trips for village chiefs to gain political support.
A recent case involved the indictment of a political party founder and retired military officers for sharing military secrets. The party, allegedly funded by China, ran candidates in Taiwan's 2024 elections, though none were elected.
China's infiltration aims to access sensitive defense intelligence and influence Taiwanese elections.
Taiwan is an island located near China. It has its own government and is considered a separate country by many, but China claims it as part of its territory.
The National Security Bureau is a government agency in Taiwan. It is responsible for protecting the country from threats, like spying or attacks from other countries.
Espionage is a fancy word for spying. It means secretly collecting information about a country or organization, usually for military or political reasons.
Prosecutions are legal actions taken against someone accused of breaking the law. In this context, it means taking legal steps against people involved in spying.
Military veterans are people who have served in the armed forces and are now retired. They have experience and knowledge about military operations.
Criminal gangs are groups of people who work together to commit crimes. They often operate outside the law and can be involved in illegal activities like smuggling or theft.
Civilian organizations are groups that are not part of the military or government. They can include clubs, societies, or businesses run by regular people.
Sensitive intelligence is important and secret information that could be harmful if it falls into the wrong hands. It often relates to national security or military plans.
To influence elections means trying to change the outcome of a vote. This can be done by spreading false information or trying to sway people's opinions.
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