TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Prosecutors have detained five active-duty or retired military members in connection with a national security case involving CTi News (中天新聞) reporter and anchor Lin Chen-you (林宸佑), authorities confirmed Monday (Jan. 19). The Ciaotou District Prosecutors Office (橋頭地檢署) in Kaohsiung alleges Lin bribed military personnel to leak intelligence for China. Taiwan's political parties have reacted sharply to the case as investigations continue.
The case involves suspected violations of the National Security Act (國安法) and anti-corruption laws. Prosecutors allege Lin provided several thousand to tens of thousands of New Taiwan dollars (around US$95 to US$3,175) to active military personnel to leak military-related information to Chinese individuals. Police and prosecutors continue gathering evidence in the ongoing investigation.
Defense Minister Wellington Koo (顧立雄) expressed deep concern over military involvement in the case. Koo emphasized that the military uncovers 90 percent of espionage cases through internal reporting and investigations. The Ministry of National Defense (國防部) stated that it continues to educate personnel on identifying infiltration patterns and is strengthening its classified information management system.
The current allegations follow a related case involving a sergeant surnamed Chen (陳), who was indicted Thursday (Jan. 9) for violating the National Security Act and corruption. Chen allegedly filmed himself waving the Chinese flag to "surrender" to the Chinese Communist Party and sent the footage to individuals in China in exchange for NT$200,000 (around US$6,350). Prosecutors also accused the sergeant of selling military secrets to Chinese contacts.
Media reports indicate the investigation has shifted from Lin's social network to tracing the source of alleged funds, which may be the case's greatest challenge. Taiwanese authorities may have difficulty obtaining complete financial records if the funds were processed through Chinese third-party payment tools such as Alipay or WeChat Pay rather than Taiwan's financial system. Lin's social media accounts reportedly show no recent travel records to China.
The Taiwan Statebuilding Party (台灣基進黨), a close ally of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), protested outside a building owned by CTi TV (中天電視台), which owns CTi News, on Monday (Jan. 19). Group members chanted that Taiwan's democracy could suffer if the national security breach remains unaddressed. Wang Hsing-huan (王興煥), chairman of the Taiwan Statebuilding Party, criticized Lin's actions, labeling the CTi building a "den of thieves."
Kuomintang (KMT, 國民黨) legislator Lo Chih-chiang (羅智強), from Taiwan's main opposition party, questioned the independence and fairness of the investigation, particularly in cases involving opposition parties, the media, or dissenters. At the Legislative Yuan (立法院), Taiwan's parliament, a reporter asked Defense Minister Koo whether the case related to press freedom. Koo declined to comment on the reporter's question about press freedom. ◼
>>> LEGAL DISCLAIMER: Legal proceedings discussed in this article remain ongoing. Under Taiwan law and international legal standards, all individuals mentioned are presumed innocent until proven guilty by a competent court.