Hsieh Ping-cheng espionage case

The Hsieh Ping-cheng espionage case was a major treason case that occurred in the Republic of China (Taiwan) in 2023, involving retired officers of the Taiwanese Republic of China Army acting in concert with active-duty officers to collectively leak military secrets.[1]

Background

A total of ten individuals, including retired officer Chen Yu-hsin, Lieutenant Colonel Hsieh Ping-cheng, Major Hsiao Hsiang-yun, active-duty Lieutenant Colonel Hsieh Meng-shu of the Army Aviation and Special Forces Command,[2] and Major Ho Hsin-ju of the Huadong Defense Command,[3][4] were suspected of leaking military secrets to intelligence personnel of the People's Republic of China.[5] The leaked information included live-fire exercises conducted during the Han Kuang Exercise,[6] defense deployments of various theater commands, the presidential "National Defense Military Conference" (Project 0221, attended only by the President, the Chief of the General Staff, service commanders, theater commanders, and presidential staff members such as the Secretary-General of the National Security Council, with no more than five or six participants), and the "Ku-an Operational Plan". The latter included such highly classified materials as reviews and improvement measures for counter-air and air superiority combat simulations, reviews and improvement measures for maritime combat simulations, responses of the ROC Armed Forces to a rapid invasion of Taiwan by the People's Liberation Army, specific measures for central defense operations, evaluation reports on the ROC military's joint intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, information, and electronic warfare capabilities, plans for naval mine warfare, the "rapid Taiwan seizure" scenario, and other important force deployments, operational plans, and classified programs involving cooperation with the United States.[7]

These individuals also participated in a psychological warfare video filmed by serviceman Lu Chun-fang declaring, "I am willing to surrender to the People's Liberation Army".[8] They further attempted to induce Lieutenant Colonel Hsieh Meng-shu to defect to the People's Liberation Army by flying a CH-47 Chinook helicopter, offering a reward of NT$480 million.[9]

Discovery

The case was uncovered in late July 2023 through a joint operation by the Military Security General Headquarters of the Ministry of National Defense and the Taiwan High Prosecutors Office. The suspects were indicted on charges including violations of the National Security Act and accepting bribes in breach of official duties under the Anti-Corruption Act.[10] On 11 December, then Minister of National Defense Chiu Kuo-cheng, four-star rank general, declined to disclose details of the case during a media interview, but described it as "the greatest humiliation" in the history of the Republic of China Armed Forces. During questioning by legislator Tsai Shih-ying at the Legislative Yuan's Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee, Chiu stated that seven active-duty officers had been indicted and that the case had been proactively detected by the Ministry of National Defense and national security agencies.[11] Chen Yu-lin, Lieutenant general of the Political Warfare Bureau, further stated that the investigation had begun in May.[12]

Aftermath

On 22 August 2024, the Taiwan High Court concluded the case. Former Lieutenant Colonel Hsieh Meng-shu of the Army Aviation and Special Forces Command, who had already been dismissed from service, was convicted of conspiring to defect to mainland China by piloting a CH-47 Chinook helicopter. Former serviceman Lu Chun-fang, who had also been dismissed from service, was convicted for filming a psychological warfare video expressing his willingness to surrender to the government of the People's Republic of China.Hsiao Hsiang-yun was sentenced to 13 years in prison; Lieutenant Colonel Hsieh Meng-shu of the Army Aviation and Special Forces Command to 9 years; businessman and retired lieutenant colonel Hsieh Ping-cheng to 8 years; Major operations officer Ho Hsin-ju of the Huadong Defense Command to 7 years and 4 months; Major intelligence officer Kang Yi-pin of the Kinmen Defense Command Guard Battalion to 7 years and 2 months; Captain Hung Jui-yang of the Army's 104th Infantry Brigade to 7 years; Lu Chun-fang to 5 years and 6 months; and Sergeant Liu Li-chi of the Tainan Reserve Brigade to 1 year and 6 months. An officer surnamed Wu was acquitted. The ruling remained subject to appeal.[13][14][15]

On 13 February 2025, the Supreme Court dismissed the appeals, making the verdict final.

References

  1. ↑ 聯合新聞網 (2023-11-28). "收賄淪共諜 10現、退役軍人被訴" [10 Active-Duty and Retired Military Personnel Indicted for Taking Bribes and Spying for the CCP]. 聯合新聞網 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Archived from the original on 2024-08-23. Retrieved 2026-06-22.
  2. ↑ 自由時報電子報 (2023-12-12). "自由日日shoot》中校約定4.7億 駕直升機投共" ["Freedom Daily Shoot": Lieutenant Colonel Arranges Defection to the Communist Side via Helicopter in Deal Worth 470 Million]. 自由時報電子報 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Archived from the original on 2026-06-11. Retrieved 2026-06-22.
  3. ↑ 自由時報電子報 (2023-08-09). "獨家 》軍官洩密窩裡反！ 6營區7人捲入 咬出花指部少校涉案 - 社會 - 自由時報電子報". 自由時報電子報 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Archived from the original on 2026-02-15. Retrieved 2026-06-22.
  4. ↑ 臺灣高等檢察署_文書科 (2023-11-27). "《新聞稿112.11.27》本署偵辦陳姓被告等10人違反國家安全法等罪嫌案件，於今(27)日偵結提起公訴。（詳附件新聞稿）" [[Press Release – November 27, 2023] This Office has concluded its investigation into the case involving a defendant surnamed Chen and nine others suspected of violating the National Security Act and other offenses, and has formally indicted them today (the 27th). (Please refer to the attached press release for details.)]. 臺灣高等檢察署 (in Traditional Chinese). Archived from the original on 2023-12-15. Retrieved 2026-06-22.
  5. ↑ 自由時報電子報 (2023-08-03). "陸航特中校疑收錢 漢光兵推洩密中國" [Army Aviation and Special Forces Lieutenant Colonel Suspected of Taking Bribes and Leaking Han Kuang War Game Secrets to China]. 自由時報電子報 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Archived from the original on 2024-08-23. Retrieved 2026-06-22.
  6. ↑ 中時新聞網 (2023-12-11). "最大「軍中共諜網」內情曝！小英國防機密會議、固安計畫全洩大陸" [Details revealed on the largest "military-to-mainland spy ring": President Tsai's classified defense meetings and the "Gu-An Plan" were all leaked to the mainland.]. 中時新聞網 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved 2026-06-22.
  7. ↑ "國軍多名軍官遭吸收！總統國防機密會議、「固安計畫」全外洩中共情報人員" [Multiple ROC military officers have been recruited by the CCP! Details regarding the President's classified defense meetings and the "Gu-An Plan" have been completely leaked to CCP intelligence agents.]. 中天新聞網 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 2023-12-11. Retrieved 2026-06-22.
  8. ↑ 聯合新聞網 (2023-11-27). "軍人拿錢拍「我願意投降解放軍」心戰片 共諜案高院裁5人續押" [High Court Rules Five Suspects in Military Spy Case Remain Detained After Accepting Payment to Film "I Am Willing to Surrender to the PLA" Psychological Warfare Video]. 聯合新聞網 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Archived from the original on 2023-12-16. Retrieved 2026-06-22.
  9. ↑ 甯其遠 (2023-12-11). "國防破大洞2／允酬1500萬美元駕直昇機登陸艦　及時偵破阻叛逃路" [Major Breach in National Defense (Part 2): $15 Million Promised for Defection via Helicopter or Landing Ship; Plot Foiled Just in Time.]. www.ctwant.com (in Chinese). Retrieved 2026-06-22.
  10. ↑ 甯其遠 (2023-12-11). "國防破大洞1／憂選前引發民眾不安？　破共諜發展組織卻不敢大內宣" [National defense suffers a major breach, raising concerns about public anxiety before the election. Despite developing a spy network, they dare not engage in large-scale internal propaganda.]. www.ctwant.com (in Chinese). Retrieved 2026-06-22.
  11. ↑ 甯其遠 (2023-12-13). "國防破大洞3／國防布再現？國防部稱沒有直升機叛逃計畫" [Major Breach in National Defense (Part 3) / A Cover-up? Ministry of National Defense Denies Helicopter Defection Plot]. www.ctwant.com (in Chinese). Retrieved 2026-06-22.
  12. ↑ 中時新聞網 (2023-12-12). "4.8億誘叛逃 7現役軍官遭起訴" [Seven active-duty officers indicted over $480 million defection plot.]. 中時新聞網 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved 2026-06-22.
  13. ↑ "現退役軍人謀駕軍機叛逃共諜案 8人判刑最重13年" [In a case involving a retired military officer plotting to defect to the mainland by flying a military aircraft as a CCP spy, eight individuals were sentenced, with the heaviest term being 13 years.]. 中央社 CNA (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 2024-11-21. Retrieved 2026-06-22.
  14. ↑ 中時新聞網 (2024-08-22). "航特部軍官洩漢光機密拍「投降心戰片」 7名軍士官涉共諜重判" [Army Special Operations Forces officer leaked "Han Kuang" exercise secrets and filmed a "surrender/psychological warfare video"; seven officers and NCOs received heavy sentences for involvement in a PRC espionage ring.]. 中時新聞網 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Archived from the original on 2024-08-23. Retrieved 2026-06-22.
  15. ↑ 徐立諺. "軍官收錢拍「我願意投降解放軍」影片　多人違反國安法遭判刑" [Military officers accepted payment to film videos declaring "I am willing to surrender to the PLA"; multiple individuals sentenced for violating national security laws.]. www.ctwant.com (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 2024-08-23. Retrieved 2026-06-22.
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