A former Taiwanese Air Force colonel has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for operating a military espionage network on behalf of China.
Liu Sheng-shu was found guilty of recruiting active-duty officers to transmit classified military information to Beijing.
Five other officers, including members of the navy and air force, received sentences ranging from six months to 20 years for their involvement in the spy ring.
It is reported that Liu was initially recruited during a business trip to China in 2013 and managed a network of informants, compensating them through shell companies.
Prosecutors stated that he received payment for passing on sensitive military intelligence, including aircraft and warship specifications.
In addition to his prison term, authorities seized NT$16.7 million (£425,000; $514,000) in illicit earnings.
In January, Liu and six other officers were charged by the Taiwan High Prosecutors Office’s Kaohsiung branch, with one individual being acquitted.
Over the past few years, several former high-ranking Taiwanese military officials have faced accusations of assisting Chinese intelligence.
For instance, in January, a retired Air Force major general was found guilty of accepting meals and trips from a Hong Kong businessman acting on behalf of Beijing.
However, his sentence was suspended due to his remorse and lack of a previous criminal record.
Source-BBC
