New taipei: Xu Chunying, a Chinese-born political activist and chair of a Taiwanese new immigrants organization, was indicted by prosecutors for violations of the Anti-Infiltration Act and financial crimes.
According to Focus Taiwan, the New Taipei District Prosecutors' Office detailed that Xu Chunying moved to Taiwan in 1998 and became the chair of the Taiwan New Immigrants Development Association. Xu, in collaboration with Chung Chin-ming, who leads a Taiwanese organization promoting cross-strait marriages, frequently traveled to China under the guise of assisting Chinese spouses. During these trips, Xu met with officials such as Yang Wentao from China's Ministry of Civil Affairs and Sun Xian from the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang, reporting to them on Taiwanese political affairs.
The indictment highlighted Xu's dissatisfaction with the Kuomintang (KMT) due to their exclusion of Chinese spouses from advantageous legislative positions and the lengthy citizenship process for them. In 2022, Xu reported to Yang about Huang Shan-shan's independent candidacy for Taipei mayor and gathered Chinese spouses to support Huang, with Yang's backing.
As Taiwan's 2024 national elections approached, Sun encouraged Xu to maintain contact with Huang, who had joined the Taiwan People's Party (TPP). Though there were suggestions of Xu being considered for the TPP's legislative list, she chose not to pursue nomination. Xu later informed Yang about TPP presidential nominee Ko Wen-je's plans to form a supportive group for Chinese spouses, subsequently drumming up backing for Ko.
Prosecutors claim these activities breached the Anti-Infiltration Act, which forbids political actions directed or financially supported by "hostile foreign forces" like China. Xu also allegedly pledged loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in communications with Yang and Sun, identifying herself as "red," contrasting the blue and green affiliations of Taiwan's major parties, the KMT and Democratic Progressive Party, respectively.
Beyond political charges, Xu faces accusations of violating the Banking Act and committing fraud and forgery under the Criminal Code. Prosecutors allege she ran an illegal currency exchange from 2020 to 2025, profiting NT$240,000 (US$7,508) from transactions totaling NT$28.75 million in various currencies. Xu is also accused of falsifying employment documents to secure a NT$26.97 million loan in her daughter's name, using a company owned by an associate, surnamed Lo, for deceptive labor insurance registration.