TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan faces a serious espionage threat from China but is stepping up countermeasures, David Hsu (徐國楨), deputy director of the Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau, said.
In an interview with The Telegraph published on Thursday, Hsu said most Taiwanese who spy for China are retired or active-duty service members, who are typically groomed before being given orders. He said agents prefer to meet in person to build trust.
However, agents also tap potential spies through online banking schemes, Hsu said. Beijing targets those “who are in financial shortages” and offers them loans that don’t need to be paid back if certain information is obtained, he said.
MJIB has observed recruitment through dating apps and sometimes via social media platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn. Targets have been instructed to recruit others to build a larger network, The Telegraph reported.
Beijing also seeks out civil servants and politicians, Hsu said. Those who previously studied in China were contacted through their university networks.
About 80% of spies have ties to the military, while about 20% are civil servants, according to MJIB. The bureau said China has likely obtained vital defense plans or is pushing propaganda through Beijing-friendly politicians in government.
“It’s possible that some of this sensitive, confidential information has been leaked to mainland China via these espionage activities, but the relevant authorities are trying their best to make damage control,” Hsu said. Some of Taiwan’s plans have been altered, but it’s difficult to know what specific information has been compromised, he added.
In 2024, Taiwan charged 64 people with espionage-related offenses, up from 48 the previous year, The Telegraph said. By September 2025, 15 people had been charged.
Hsu said the peak in 2024 was due to it being an election year, prompting Beijing to step up espionage activities. He said the drop in cases in 2025 reflected effective government policies.
In March, President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) introduced 17 strategies to counter Chinese espionage in Taiwan. Some of the measures include restoring the military court system, improving risk management for Chinese visitors to Taiwan, and strengthening legal frameworks.
Hsu said Taiwan’s espionage problem was “quite serious” but believed it could be addressed with Taiwan’s “strong inter-agency co-operation and strong capacities.”
