Former Ministry of Culture Employee Indicted for Spying on Tibetans
Taiwanese Civil Servant Records Conversations
Overt Operator
October 25, 2023
MOC Taiwan Stories Island . The accused was a former civil servant of the MOC. Chen Temen Poyen, a former civil servant at the Ministry of Culture (MOC), has been indicted on national security charges for allegedly providing information on Tibetans in Taiwan to the Chinese government, according to prosecutors.
The Taipei District Prosecutor's Office revealed that Chen secretly recorded conversations with his colleagues at the MOC's Mongolian & Tibetan Cultural Center and then passed the recordings on to China's Ministry of State Security.
To disguise his actions, Chen used a recording device that looked like a pen, which was given to him by Taiwanese businessman Fan Hsiang in October 2019. Fan, who has been recruited by Beijing to spy on Tibetans in Taiwan, is also facing charges alongside his wife, Jan Ju.
Prosecutors claim that Fan and Jan recruited Chen under the instruction of Chinese Ministry of State Security official Hou Zheng. The couple allegedly received funds and free travel to China's Hainan Province from Hou, whom they first met in 2017.
Furthermore, prosecutors have indicted two others who were allegedly recruited by Fan and Jan. Ting Chao-chung, a former detective agency boss, and Tao Tai-pao, a suspected gang member, have also been implicated in the case. Fan introduced Tao to Hou during their travel to Hainan in January 2018.
Prosecutors revealed that Chen was invited to meet with Hou in Hainan in April 2017. Since August, Fan has been detained as part of an investigation into breaches of Taiwan's National Security Act.
In response to the allegations, the MOC has suspended Chen from his position and referred his case to the Disciplinary Committee.
This case highlights the ongoing tensions between China and Taiwan, particularly regarding issues involving national security. The indictment of Chen and the other individuals involved serves as a reminder of the importance of safeguarding sensitive information and protecting national interests.
The trial for Chen Temen Poyen, Fan Hsiang, Jan Ju, Ting Chao-chung, and Tao Tai-pao is expected to commence in the coming months, with the outcomes likely to have significant implications for both Taiwan and China.
As investigations continue, authorities are doubling down on efforts to prevent espionage activities and ensure the safety and security of the Taiwanese people.