TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — China’s rapidly evolving spying operations and the use of new technology pose a potentially serious threat to national security, according to a recent assessment by the National Security Bureau (NSB).
The warning highlights Beijing’s attempts to infiltrate Taiwan’s military and society amid a surge in prosecutions, according to a Wall Street Journal article published Wednesday.
Taiwan filed charges against 64 people in 15 alleged Chinese espionage cases in 2024, up from three cases in 2021, WSJ reported, citing prosecutors. Meanwhile, the NSB has tracked 84 national security cases since 2023, with recent examples including a January 2026 case involving a reporter accused of bribing military officers for secrets.
In two recent NSB analyses, the reach and advancing nature of China’s spy operations are detailed. This includes January’s “Analysis of China's Cognitive Warfare Tactics Against Taiwan in 2025” and “Analysis on China's Cyber Threats to Taiwan's Critical Infrastructure.”
Nearly two-thirds of people charged in recent espionage cases were military personnel, active or retired. Furthermore, nearly 90% of the military cases came from internal tips. Defense Minister Wellington Koo (顧立雄) was quoted by WSJ as saying: “It’s less of an intelligence war and more like cognitive warfare.”
A Global Taiwan Institute analysis noted a 10-person military spy ring broken up in 2024 that targeted Han Kuang exercises and leaked plans via Telegram for cash payments of up to NT$664,000 (US$21,000).
WSJ detailed how China’s spy machine targets Taiwan’s defenses systematically, eroding readiness as Beijing intensifies military drills nearby. Prosecutors have pursued cases across roles, from elite units guarding the Presidential Office to information warfare commands, revealing vulnerabilities in classified data handling.
In response, President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) last year announced 17 countermeasures against united front threats, including cyber espionage and influence via cross-strait exchanges.
More recently, a Foundation for Defense of Democracies report earlier this month detailed China’s targeting of Taiwan’s semiconductors and infrastructure to steal tech secrets. These operations reflect a long-term strategy to subvert Taiwan from within, exploiting democratic openness to recruit via financial incentives, social media, and organized crime ties, WSJ reported.
The report also warned of growing challenges from AI and advanced Chinese spy technologies that are part of Beijing’s rapidly advancing intelligence capabilities. In one example, an Air Force sergeant used a Chinese-developed phone app to evade military security software and photograph classified documents.
In response, the NSB has urged societal vigilance beyond military ranks. As cases proliferate, WSJ said, Taiwan faces an internal security crisis that complicates its response to China’s threat.
