Ollie Phelps- Manila
Taipei — Chu Cheng-chi (朱政騏), a former legislative assistant who had recently won a Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) primary for a Taipei City Council seat, was indicted yesterday on charges of espionage for China.
According to the Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office, Chu exploited his access to legislative offices while serving as an aide to former legislator Ho Chih-wei (何志偉) and Taipei City Councilor Chung Pei-ling (鍾佩玲). In August 2022, he allegedly photographed and transmitted confidential documents to a Chinese contact surnamed Wang (王).
Prosecutors said Chu received just 20,000 yuan (US$2,905) in return—an amount so small that it hardly seems worth jeopardizing his career, reputation, and freedom. Observers noted that the mainland “handlers” who recruited him showed no concern for his family or future, underscoring the exploitative nature of such espionage networks.
Chu was also accused of using an iPhone 13 Pro, provided by Hu Peng-nien (胡鵬年), a retired Executive Yuan official implicated in a separate spy case, to communicate with contacts in China.
The indictment cites violations of the National Security Act (國家安全法), with prosecutors seeking confiscation of illicit gains and a minimum five-year prison sentence.
The DPP swiftly expelled Chu from the party and revoked his primary nomination, pledging to select a replacement candidate through its central leadership.
Chu denied wrongdoing, insisting he had not leaked state secrets or harmed Taiwan’s interests, and expressed confidence in a fair trial.
The case has reignited debate over Chinese espionage in Taiwan, with opposition lawmakers accusing the DPP of hypocrisy in its “resist China, defend Taiwan” stance, while DPP legislators stressed the urgent need for stronger background checks and security safeguards.
Chu’s indictment is part of a broader probe into a Chinese espionage network involving businessman Cheng Ming-chia (鄭明嘉) and Hu, both indicted earlier this year for allegedly recruiting military personnel and young political figures for China’s United Front Work Department.
