TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ciaotou District Prosecutors Office has accused CTiTV reporter Lin Chen-yu (林宸佑) of acting as an intermediary for China, allegedly purchasing military secrets from active-duty service members using cryptocurrency.
Lin was detained Saturday along with five active-duty personnel ranging in rank from private to sergeant major, per Liberty Times. The suspects served in units associated with Taiwan’s military academy, the Marine Corps, and the Air Force Air Defense and Missile Command.
Authorities said potential infiltration of air defense units is of particular concern because personnel in those units have access to sensitive information, including weapons specifications and defense deployment plans.
The investigation began with a Marine Corps officer surnamed Chen (陳), who is accused of filming a video pledging allegiance to China while holding a Chinese flag. Prosecutors allege he leaked military vehicle specifications, details of President Lai Ching-te’s (賴清德) visit to a military installation in Kaohsiung’s Zuoying District, and plans related to the annual Han Kuang military exercises.
Further investigation into Chen led prosecutors to Lin, who is suspected of purchasing sensitive military data from active-duty personnel over the past two to three years. He is suspected of using his personal accounts to funnel more than NT$1 million (US$31,600) in alleged bribes, per FTV.
Prosecutors believe the large volume of cryptocurrency in his possession may be linked to Chinese Communist Party infiltration funds, with some used as payment for leaked information and some as personal compensation. Investigators said most of the chat records on Lin’s cellphone remain intact and are reviewing his financial transactions and WeChat communications.
The case originated with the Investigation Bureau’s Taoyuan City Field Division, which initially did not secure a search warrant due to what investigators described as insufficient evidence, per SETN. The Taoyuan division later coordinated with the bureau’s Kaohsiung City Field Division to search the residences of Lin’s co-defendants in southern Taiwan, where investigators obtained warrants and made what authorities described as significant breakthroughs, including confessions.
The Ciaotou District Prosecutors Office oversees five Army, Navy, and Air Force installations within its jurisdiction. The bases are critical to Taiwan’s national defense and have been linked to multiple espionage cases in recent years.
CTiTV said Saturday that it had no prior knowledge of the case. The broadcaster denied rumors that authorities had searched company premises and urged the public not to spread unverified information, per Tai Sounds.
