A female Coast Guard non-commissioned officer, who leaked classified information to China in May has been sentenced to six years and two months in prison, according to recent updates from the Coast Guard Administration. Ocean Affairs Council (OAC) Minister Kuan Bi-ling (管碧玲) expressed deep sorrow over the incident during a legislative meeting on Wednesday, emphasizing the serious threat of Chinese infiltration.
The officer surnamed Wu, was convicted under anti-corruption laws for illegally photographing and selling confidential work reports to Chinese intelligence personnel. Minister Kuan revealed that China often targets individuals with debt problems through underground lending networks. She says the Ocean Affairs Council has been actively assisting employees with debt consultation and encouraging them to report issues internally.
Kuan stated that she has additional cases under strict surveillance and is demanding that Coast Guard personnel maintain professional integrity. She stressed the importance of reporting such misconduct, urging those involved to come forward.
Kuan highlighted that the illegal recruitment attempts can be as simple as offering NT$50,000 (US$1,500) for a business card or an ID copy through various digital platforms. As part of their prevention efforts, the council is collaborating with Shih Hsin University to have previously released suspects create testimonial videos explaining how they were lured into such activities, serving as a warning to others.