Ex-Assistant of Foreign Minister Detained Amid Expanding Espionage Cases in Taiwan’s DPP

Taipei: A former assistant to the Secretary-General of the National Security Council, Joseph Wu, during his tenure as Taiwan's top diplomat, has been detained in connection with an espionage case. Prosecutors in Taipei brought in the former assistant, Ho Jen-chieh, for questioning after conducting a search of his residence on Thursday. A court granted their request to place Ho under detention later that day. According to Focus Taiwan, Wu's office has declined to comment on the case, stating only that Ho resigned from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in March 2024, about two months before Wu was succeeded by Lin Chia-lung as foreign minister and assumed the role of NSC chief in May. The office emphasized that any individuals engaged in activities betraying the country should receive the severest punishment, adding its support for the judicial authorities in handling such cases impartially and in accordance with the law. Ho's arrest adds to a growing list of individuals suspected of spying for Chinese intellig ence services while working for senior officials in the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government, in power since 2016. Other suspects include Wu Shang-yu, who worked as an adviser in President Lai Ching-te's office; Chiu Shih-yuan, former deputy head of the DPP's Taiwan Institute of Democracy; and Huang Chu-jung, assistant to DPP New Taipei Councilor Lee Yu-tien. Prosecutors allege that Huang was likely recruited by Beijing's intelligence services while doing business in China and began working with Ho, Wu Shang-yu, and Chiu to gather confidential information upon returning to Taiwan. Wu is said to have leaked information regarding Lai's visit to Paraguay in August 2023, including flight schedules, accommodation, and meeting details. While prosecutors did not disclose the specific confidential information compromised by Ho and Chiu, they revealed that Huang transferred the information to Chinese intelligence services, receiving tens of thousands of NT dollars in return. The probe into the case expanded after tracing money flows between Huang and the others in February, leading to the detention of Huang, Wu, and Chiu following interrogations. Despite the expanding investigation, prosecutors did not provide further details about the connections between Huang and the others, nor information about the Chinese intelligence services involved. The DPP has expelled Wu from the party and removed Chiu and Huang from its membership list, citing serious threats to national security and reputational damage. In a separate espionage case, Sheng Chu-ying, a former assistant to then-Legislative Speaker You Si-kun of the DPP, is alleged to have provided confidential legislative information to Chinese intelligence services, receiving payment in cash and virtual currency. Sheng was released on bail with conditions in late March.