Taipei District Prosecutors Office today announced that four Taiwanese men have been charged on suspicion of spying on behalf of the Chinese government, in violation of the National Security Act. The charges come after the conclusion of the Zhou Hongxu case, in which a Chinese graduate student served 14 months in jail after being convicted of espionage in Taiwan. The four men charged today are accused of forming a Taiwan-based espionage ring, led by Zhou, and accepting funds from Chinese authorities. Zhou Hongxu has already served his sentence, but today, charges were laid against several of his alleged conspirators, including New Party spokesman Wang Ping-chung.Chou Shih-yuTaipei Deputy Chief ProsecutorThe four defendants, including Mr. Wang, Mr. Lin and Mr. Hou, formed the “Star Fire Secret Group”. The defendant Mr. Wang also met a Chinese official surnamed Zhao in Xiamen.Prosecutors produced messages sent by the defendants, as well as the cash on this table, as evidence of their dealings with Chinese authorities.Zhou Hongxu came to Taiwan on the pretext of furthering his studies, to gather intelligence for Beijing. Prosecutors maintain that he set up a website, funded by Chinese authorities, to attract young Taiwanese into an espionage ring, aided by Wang Ping-chung, Lin Ming-cheng and Hou Han-ting, all youth members of Taiwan’s pro-Beijing New Party. Zhou is also believed to have sent reports about his three collaborators back to Chinese authorities such as the Taiwan Affairs Office.Chou Shih-yuTaipei Deputy Chief ProsecutorThe defendants are suspected of intent to endanger national security and social order, and of developing organizations on behalf of governmental, military or party political agencies of China.Wang Ping-chungNew Party spokesmanI did not accept any financial support from these supposed party, governmental, or military agencies of China, or engage in any espionage ring.Wang Ping-chung has maintained his innocence ever since the allegations were first raised against him.
