Richard Sanders
A retired lieutenant general has been indicted for allegedly using Chinese funds to recruit military personnel for an “armed” group intended to support potential invading Chinese forces, according to prosecutors.
Kao An-kuo was one of six individuals charged under the National Security Act, as stated by the High Prosecutors’ Office. The group reportedly traveled to China multiple times between 2018 and 2022, where they interacted with Chinese military intelligence to secure funding and guidance for establishing organizations aligned with China’s interests.
Prosecutors highlighted that their activities posed a significant risk to national security and social stability. After leaving the military, Kao and another defendant created an “armed organization” named the “Republic of China Taiwan Military Government,” which was designed to act as an “internal collaborator” during a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan.
They were also involved in recruiting both retired and active military personnel, which prosecutors claim endangered national security. Prosecutors are seeking a minimum sentence of 10 years for Kao, citing his breach of loyalty to the country for personal gain, while the other defendants could face up to eight years in prison.
While the exact amount of funds received by Kao and the others remains unspecified, it has been reported that they collectively received over NT$9.62 million (approximately US$293,525) from China. Taiwan has seen an increase in espionage cases as China intensifies military and political pressure on Taipei, with prosecutions for spying rising significantly from 10 in 2022 to 64 last year.
