TAIPEI, Taiwan — Taiwanese authorities have taken decisive action against an alleged espionage operation, detaining a television journalist alongside five current and former military officers on Saturday. The case centers on accusations that the journalist bribed military personnel to obtain sensitive defense information for individuals from mainland China.
The Qiaotou District Prosecutors Office confirmed that a district court ordered the detention of the individuals, identifying the journalist only by the surname Lin. CTi TV, the employer of reporter Lin Chen-you, acknowledged his detention while emphasizing their lack of case details and calling for a fair judicial process. The news organization concluded its statement with the phrase “God bless Taiwan.
This development occurs amid heightened tensions between Taiwan and China. Beijing consistently claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has intensified military activities around the island. Last month, China conducted large-scale military exercises following Washington’s announcement of significant arms sales to Taiwan.
According to prosecutors, Lin allegedly provided payments ranging from several thousand to tens of thousands of Taiwan dollars (equivalent to tens to hundreds of U.S. dollars) to active military personnel in exchange for sensitive information. The prosecution did not specify whether the Chinese recipients had direct ties to the Chinese government.
Authorities executed raids on Friday targeting the journalist’s premises and nine current and retired military personnel as part of an investigation into potential violations of national security laws, anti-corruption statutes, and the unauthorized disclosure of classified information. CTi TV confirmed that their corporate offices were not subject to these raids.
Lin’s professional background, as indicated on his Facebook profile, includes serving as a political reporter and anchor covering Taiwan’s legislative affairs.
The case represents an unusual intersection of journalism and national security concerns in Taiwan, where espionage investigations typically focus on government and military personnel rather than media representatives. CTi News has operated as an online news outlet since 2020, when Taiwan’s National Communications Commission declined to review its cable television license due to repeated violations and increasing complaints. Although a court later overturned this decision, the legal dispute continues through the appeals process.