Taiwan's Ruling Party Expels Five Members for Chinese Espionage

Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) unanimously voted on Wednesday to expel five members accused of spying for China, including a former presidential office staffer.

The unprecedented expulsions mark the first time DPP members have been implicated in espionage activities for Beijing. Among those expelled are a former aide to National Security Council chief Joseph Wu during his tenure as foreign minister, and an individual who had worked for President Lai Ching-te both during his vice presidency and presidency, according to the Central News Agency.

"The current international situation is grim, and Taiwan is facing threats from the Chinese Communist Party," the DPP stated, emphasizing that the alleged actions "not only violated the laws of our country, but also violated the discipline and core values of our party."

The DPP did not specify whether the five individuals have been formally charged with crimes. The Taipei District Prosecutors' Office was unavailable for immediate comment.

This development comes amid escalating tensions between Taiwan and China, which claims the self-ruled island as part of its territory and has threatened military action to achieve unification.

Taiwan has seen a sharp increase in Chinese espionage prosecutions in recent years. According to Taiwan's National Security Bureau, 64 people were prosecuted for Chinese espionage in the previous year, up from 48 in 2023 and just 10 in 2022. Last year's cases included 15 veterans and 28 active military personnel, with some receiving sentences of up to 20 years imprisonment.

Taiwan has consistently accused China of employing espionage, cyberattacks, and disinformation campaigns to undermine its defenses, with particular focus on infiltrating Taiwan's military.