Officials and Lawmakers Deny Reports on Taiwanese Spies in China|央視報台諜新聞 朝野立委同批假新聞

China's state-owned broadcaster CCTV has recently aired a program on so-called "Taiwanese spies", which claims that a significant network of spies have been operating among China's university campuses recruiting students and others through bribery or romantic relationships. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied the accusations, saying it's "fake news" and is fabricated to.


On September 15, the China Central Television (CCTV) aired a program that shows a female Taiwanese spy, surnamed Hsu, began a relationship with a Chinese student in Taiwan 16 years her junior and managed to get her hands on over 100 pieces of classified information from China's Commission for Science, Technology and Industry of National Defense. CCTV aired another program on the 16th on another Taiwanese female spy, surnamed Hsu, who took advantage of her relationship with a Chinese student and a public sector worker, surnamed Chu, to steal information. Her action even caused Chu to receive a 5-year jail term. The CCTV has publicly listed the names, age, the agencies of Taiwanese spies and said that the Chinese Ministry of State Security has cracked over 100 espionage cases.

On September 16, An Fengshan, the spokesperson of China's Taiwan Affairs Office, called on Taiwan to immediately stop its attempt of espionage and subversion in order to avoid further damage of cross-strait relations. Officials from Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council and Ministry of National Defense all denied the allegations of espionage activities and criticized China for damaging cross-strait relations by spreading inappropriate information.

The information in these reports is made up. I think this is part of China's unification effort. There's no need to overreact to this.

China's loose definition of "espionage" has severely damaged cross-strait exchanges. They even hinder academic exchanges among students. Their attempt to divide us from within is the true culprit of worsening cross-strait exchanges.

Lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) called the reports fake news, whereas opposition Kuomintang (KMT) lawmakers said involving students in the report is just an excuse. The two sides across the Taiwan Strait have long been accusing each other of espionage activities.

I feel that the report on Taiwanese spies in China is ridiculous. I don't think even Chinese internet users believe it. It's just blown out of proportion.
It makes sense that some professionals in certain fields could be recruited as spies. But I think Chinese students are just here (in Taiwan) to study.

Many lawmakers consider the timing of the report to be suspicious since it was aired months before the upcoming mayoral elections in Taiwan. The lawmakers call on the public not to overreact to it.