Taiwan Air Force Officer Jailed for Seven Years in China Espionage Case Amid Growing Infiltration Concerns

TAIPEI – A Taiwan Air Force officer has been sentenced to more than seven years in prison for leaking sensitive military documents to China, in a news development that underscores the escalating threat of Chinese espionage on the self-governing island. Air Force Intercept Controller Hsu Chan-cheng (許展誠) received a sentence of seven years and four months from the Taichung District Court on Thursday, August 22, 2025, for his role in a spy ring. The verdict also included the forfeiture of his illicit gains and a five-year deprivation of his civil rights.

The Verdict and the Deception

Hsu Chan-cheng was found guilty of violating Taiwan’s National Security Act and Anti-Corruption Act after being recruited in 2021 by retired Air Force Major Shih Chun-cheng (史濬程). Shih, who had been absorbed by Chinese intelligence shortly after leaving the military in 2008, established an espionage network designed to ferret out Taiwan’s military secrets. He approached Hsu under the false pretense of having connections to the U.S. military, enticing him with promises of financial compensation for sensitive information.

Over nearly four years, Hsu provided internal Air Force training materials. These documents included crucial details on fighter jets armed with Hsiung Feng III anti-ship missiles and operational responses to Chinese military flights within Taiwan’s air defense identification zone. While these files were not formally classified as top-tier defense secrets, the court emphasized that their disclosure could gravely compromise Taiwan’s national security by offering Beijing insights into operational details and defense capabilities. Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo, in an earlier statement, indicated that the leaked data regarding the Hsiung Feng III missiles was from a developmental phase and “not combat-related.”

The Financial Incentive and Mastermind

Hsu admitted to receiving over NT$220,000 (approximately US$7,200) for his illicit activities. This sum, however, was a mere fraction of the payments Shih Chun-cheng obtained from his Chinese handlers, which amounted to more than NT$2.1 million (approximately US$68,841-68,923). Shih, who also confessed during questioning, saw his own legal process culminate a day earlier. On August 21, 2025, the Supreme Court upheld a 26-month prison term for Shih for breaches of the National Security Act, while remanding another 10-month sentence to a lower court for retrial. Travel restrictions have been imposed on Shih, who was released on bail.

Alarming Rise in Cross-Strait Espionage

Hsu’s conviction is the latest news in a disturbing trend of Chinese intelligence actively targeting both active and retired Taiwanese military personnel through financial incentives and other means. Taiwan’s national security agencies have reported a significant surge in such cases. The National Security Bureau (NSB) revealed 84 national security cases since 2023. In 2024 alone, 64 individuals were prosecuted for Chinese espionage, a dramatic increase from 16 in 2021. Since 2020, 159 individuals have been indicted for spying for China, with a staggering 60% being active or retired military personnel. Current estimates from Taiwan’s national security services suggest there are over 5,000 spies operating on the island on behalf of China.

Chinese operatives employ various methods, from using retired military members to recruit active-duty personnel to leveraging online networks, cash payments, or exploiting financial vulnerabilities. The scope of this infiltration extends beyond military secrets to encompass government agencies, critical infrastructure, and even public morale through extensive information warfare campaigns.

Taiwan’s Robust Response

In response to this pervasive threat, Taiwan is fortifying its counter-espionage measures. President Lai Ching-te convened a high-level national security meeting on March 13, 2025, outlining seventeen major strategies to combat national security threats. President Lai declared China a “foreign hostile force” and announced plans to reestablish military courts during peacetime—a system suspended since 2013—to more effectively address crimes such as espionage and insubordination within the armed forces.

Furthermore, the Ministry of National Defense is committed to enhancing counterintelligence capabilities through continuous education for soldiers, more stringent background checks for personnel, and bolstering staffing within the Military Intelligence Bureau. A new model, akin to that in the United States, will prioritize access to confidential information based on necessity and stringent confidentiality protocols, rather than solely on rank. This robust response reflects Taiwan’s unwavering resolve to safeguard its sovereignty and democratic institutions against relentless external interference. The headline serves as a stark reminder of the continuous challenges Taiwan faces in maintaining its national security.