Xi Jinping Government Paid $1,280 Each Month To Taiwanese Officer To Surrender If War Started

Taiwan is investigating a military officer who reportedly received monthly payments from Xi Jinping's government for years to gather intelligence and surrender if Beijing attacked Taipei.

What Happened: The officer received NT$40,000 ($1,280) each month from China after a retired military officer recruited him as a spy in 2019, reported the Central News Agency, citing the Bureau of Investigation statement. 

See Also: Taiwan Seeks China’s Cooperation To Avoid Conflict — Beijing Says Taipei’s Push For Independence Root Cause Of Problems

The report added that the infantry officer, Colonel Xiang Deen, accepted bribes from China and signed a pledge of allegiance to Xi's communist party. 

While this is not new for Taipei, the U.S. has long worried about the island nation's ability to keep technology and other secrets out of its resource-rich neighbor’s hands. 

Earlier in 2021, Taiwan's former Vice Defense Minister Chang Che Ping – who was once Taiwan's third most important military official – was investigated based on concern about contact with a Chinese spy ring. However, Chang was later cleared and served as a witness in a case that led to the indictments in June of two other officers.

Meanwhile, in Colonel Xiang’s case, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense stated that "the Political and Warfare Bureau of the Ministry of National Defense cooperated with the National Security Unit to investigate the CCP's development of organizations in Taiwan, and found Colonel Xiang suspected of violating the National Security Law and the Corruption Regulations."

"This case highlights that the CCP has infiltrated and China absorbed and searched for information and secrets, which has formed a serious threat," the statement said, as per its English translation. 

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