China News
TAIWAN NEWS
Taiwan plans to reinstate military judges for China spy cases
Taiwan plans to reinstate military judges for China spy cases
By Amber Wang and Joy Chiang
Taipei (AFP) Mar 13, 2025

Taiwan plans to reinstate military judges to hear Chinese espionage cases and other offences involving Taiwanese service members, President Lai Ching-te said Thursday.

The number of people prosecuted for spying for Beijing has risen sharply, with retired and serving members of Taiwan's military the main targets of Chinese infiltration efforts, official figures show.

China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has threatened to use force to bring it under its control.

Taiwan says China also uses "grey zone" tactics, including espionage, cyberattacks and disinformation, to weaken its defences.

Lai said there would be a review and an amendment to the law "to reinstate the military trial system", he told reporters after a national security meeting.

"Military judges will return to the front line," Lai said.

He said military judges would work "alongside prosecutorial and judicial agencies to handle criminal cases involving active-duty military personnel accused of treason, aiding the enemy, leaking classified information, dereliction of duty, insubordination, and other military offences".

Taiwan's intelligence agency previously said that 64 people were prosecuted for Chinese espionage in 2024, compared with 48 in 2023, and 10 in 2022.

Retired and serving members of the military were the main targets of China's infiltration efforts, Taiwan's National Security Bureau said.

Taiwan disbanded the military court system after the death of a young corporal in 2013.

Hung Chung-chiu died of heatstroke on July 4, 2013 just three days before the end of his compulsory year-long military service.

The changes proposed by Lai would apply to crimes committed by serving members of the military during peacetime.

They would have to be approved by the opposition-controlled parliament, Ryan Yen-Hsuan Chen, a lawyer and executive committee member of the Judicial Reform Foundation, told AFP.

- 'Treasonous organisations'-

Previous concerns about the military trial system included the lack of independence of judges and prosecutors, and transparency of the judicial process, the National Human Rights Museum said on its website.

Former lawmaker Hung Tzu-yung, who is the sister of the late conscript, expressed concern about the potential for abuse.

"The Code of Military Trial was revised to end the harmful influence of military trials during the authoritarian period," she said.

"Now that President Lai wants to conditionally restart (military trials) against 'foreign hostile forces', the supporting measures must be sufficient."

Lai cited cases of Taiwanese forming "treasonous organisations for China to build armed forces" on the island, as he defended the need for reinstating military judges and other measures to combat Chinese infiltration.

"China has utilised democratic Taiwan's freedom and diverse openness to absorb gangsters, media personnel, commentators, political parties, and even active and retired military and police personnel to carry out activities such as division, destruction, and subversion within us," Lai said.

"We have no choice but to take more proactive actions."

Both sides of the Taiwan Strait have been spying on each other for decades.

But analysts have warned that espionage is a bigger problem for Taiwan, which faces the existential threat of a Chinese invasion.

In recent years, China has ramped up the deployment of fighter jets and warships around the island, and sought to erase Taiwan from the international stage by poaching its diplomatic allies and blocking it from global forums.

Related Links
Taiwan News at SinoDaily.com

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
TAIWAN NEWS
Taiwan premier says hiking defence budget to 10% of GDP 'impossible'
Taipei (AFP) Mar 12, 2025
Taiwan's premier said on Wednesday raising defence spending to 10 percent of the island's gross domestic product is "impossible", despite US calls for such a hike. Taiwan is a potential flashpoint for a war between China and the United States, which is the island's most important backer and biggest arms supplier. Beijing claims democratic Taiwan as part of its territory and has threatened to use force to bring the self-ruled island under control. Premier Cho Jung-tai, asked by an opposition ... read more

TAIWAN NEWS
China advances manned lunar program for 2030 moon landing

Shenzhou XIX crew successfully tests pipeline inspection robot on space station

Shenzhou 19 Crew Advances Scientific Research and Conducts Training in Space

Moon-Exposed Grass Seeds to Be Cultivated on Earth

TAIWAN NEWS
Chinese shoppers shrug off tariffs on US pantry staples

China holds talks with Walmart on impact of US tariffs: local reports

Global art market slumps as Chinese auction sales plummet: data

China, EU vow countermeasures against sweeping US steel tariffs

TAIWAN NEWS
TAIWAN NEWS
French defence minister to host key European counterparts on Ukraine

China, Iran and Russia to hold 'Security Belt' military exercise in Indian Ocean

'Very broad consensus' emerging among Europeans on Ukraine: France

Facing Trump and Putin, are the EU's defence plans enough?

TAIWAN NEWS
Highly radioactive nuclear waste - preserving awareness for future generations

Framatome advances nuclear fuel innovation as U.S. NRC reviews high burnup fuel report

Google, Amazon, Meta join back tripling of global nuclear power by 2050

Nuclear inspectors review contentious Bangladesh plant

TAIWAN NEWS
Russian disinformation 'infects' AI chatbots, researchers warn

Musk says X hit by major cyberattack

Russia accuses U.K. of spying, expels 2 British diplomats

From critic to investor: Trump welcomes crypto leaders to White House

TAIWAN NEWS
Highly radioactive nuclear waste - preserving awareness for future generations

Framatome advances nuclear fuel innovation as U.S. NRC reviews high burnup fuel report

Google, Amazon, Meta join back tripling of global nuclear power by 2050

Nuclear inspectors review contentious Bangladesh plant

TAIWAN NEWS
Engineers' new design of offshore energy system clears key hurdle

Student refines 100-year-old math problem, expanding wind energy possibilities

Berlin says offshore Chinese wind farm may pose security risk

Green energy projects adding to Sami people's climate woes: Amnesty

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.