Taiwan Detains Army Officer Suspected of Leaking Military Secrets to China

Taiwanese authorities have arrested an army officer and several collaborators on suspicion of passing military secrets to China.

The Defense Ministry said on Wednesday that China is believed to have recruited a lieutenant colonel and two other suspects to leak military secrets and other information.

The arrests come as military tensions continue to escalate between China and the self-ruled Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its territory and has waged a long-running campaign to recruit retired Taiwanese military personnel to leak state secrets in return for money or gifts.

The lieutenant colonel is also suspected of setting up an espionage network involving serving and retired military personnel to gather intelligence for China, according to the Taipei Times, citing Taiwan's public prosecutor's office.

The office did not immediately respond to questions about the case.

"The Ministry of National Defense saddens and strongly condemns a few unscrupulous people who violated the duty to defend the homeland and committed crimes such as betraying the people," the Defense Ministry said in a statement.

Authorities questioned a retired army major and three others in the case, and he was released on bail ranging from NT$20,000 ($630) to NT$600,000 ($19,000), according to the Taipei Times.

Last month, the Taiwanese authorities arrested five people, including a Chinese national, on suspicion of spying for China.