 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
. |
Taiwan presidential official, MP's aide arrested for spying for China
Taipei (AFP) Jan 15, 2009 A specialist in the Taiwanese president's office and a legislator's former aide were arrested Thursday on suspicion of leaking state secrets to China, officials and reports said. Wang Ren-bing, who has been on the presidential staff eight years, and Chen Ping-ren, adviser to a ruling Kuomintang lawmaker, were taken into custody early Thursday for allegedly violating national security laws, said a spokesman at Taipei district court. The spokesman declined to comment on reports that Chen allegedly passed information on the May 20, 2008 inauguration of President Ma Ying-jeou he obtained from Wang to Chinese intelligence. Presidential spokesman Wang Yu-chi on Thursday attempted to downplay the impact of the case. "He was not in charge of any special tasks and his access to confidential information was extremely little," he said, adding that security would be reviewed if necessary. The pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) warned that the case highlighted China's lingering threat to the island despite improving ties. "China has not and would never give up spying on Taiwan. We are concerned that the Ma government's pro-China policies .... would jeopardise national security," a DPP statement said. The United Daily News, citing unnamed sources, reported Thursday that Wang photocopied documents pertaining to the handover of power to Ma from his predecessor Chen Shui-bian as well as the presidential office organisational charts and division phone numbers. Other reports said Chen Ping-ren, who has since quit, handed over the documents he obtained between March and April to Chinese intelligence both by faxing and in person at Macau airport. The arrests came after prosecutors searched Wang's office and residence on Wednesday and confiscated a box of documents, prosecutors said. The paper said Wang joined the presidential staff in 2001 while Chen was in office under the recommendation of his then right-hand man Chen Che-nan. Chen Shui-bian, who frequently irked China with his pro-independence rhetoric, left office in May after serving the maximum two four-year terms. Tensions have eased since the Beijing-friendly Ma swept to power last year on a platform to boost trade and tourism links with China. Share This Article With Planet Earth
Related Links Taiwan News at SinoDaily.com
A tale of two museums unfolds as Taiwan-China rivalry thaws
Taipei (AFP) Jan 11, 2009The major museums of long-term rivals Taiwan and China are planning unprecedented exchange visits and could hold a joint exhibition as the once-bitter distance between them narrows. |
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2007 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |
del.icio.us
Digg
Reddit
YahooMyWeb
Google
Facebook