TAIPEI, Taiwan – Taiwan’s ruling party now requires its members to report their plans before visiting China, including Hong Kong and Macau, in response to growing concerns over Chinese espionage.
Taiwan and China have repeatedly accused each other of spying, with Taiwan arresting several individuals it claims were recruited by Beijing to gather intelligence or influence public opinion. Beijing typically denies any involvement in espionage activities targeting Taiwan, calling the accusations “groundless” or “politically motivated.”
Lai Ching-te, Taiwan’s president and chairman of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, or DPP, announced Wednesday that all party members must now report in advance and submit a follow-up report if they travel to China or have contact with individuals linked to the Chinese government.
“Any betrayal of the party’s core values for personal gain must be met with strict disciplinary action and the harshest legal consequences,” Lai told the party’s weekly meeting.
In addition to the requirement to report China visits, Lai also issued measures such as enhanced internal education for party members to strengthen awareness of national security and legal responsibilities. He also demanded stricter oversight of legislative and local council aides, with party caucuses tasked with developing specific protocols and training programs.
The moves follow recent Chinese espionage cases against the DPP.
According to Taiwan’s law enforcement, a current presidential adviser and a former foreign ministry staffer are accused of working together to help DPP members recruited by China gather classified information, including details of Taiwan’s president and vice president’s official visits to diplomatic allies.
Apart from that, a former DPP aide at the Legislative Yuan, Taiwan’s parliament, is suspected of receiving cash and cryptocurrency from Chinese intelligence agencies while abroad. He is reported to have provided classified information from the Legislative Yuan.
“The DPP is a natural target for infiltration,” Lai said of the cases, pointing out that in recent years, some former party officials dramatically shifted their stance on national sovereignty after leaving office, which he sees as a reflection of China’s long-term infiltration efforts.
Ho Cheng-Hui, the deputy secretary-general of Taiwan National Security Institute, said that conventional espionage cases involve top-tier officials such as a military general or a higher-up government official, but in Taiwan’s recent cases, political aides have become a primary target.
With access to sensitive information, government officials are now potential risks, said Ho, adding that the administration’s new measures are a step in the right direction, but “much broader reforms are still needed.”
“Strict control over classified documents should be enforced, ensuring that only authorized individuals – ideally just one person – can view such materials,” Ho told Radio Free Asia.
“Aides or secretaries should not be allowed access. Additionally, regular audits and random inspections should be implemented,” said Ho, highlighting the need for comprehensive background checks and access control based on security clearance.
Ho also stressed the importance of “preventive measures.”
“Focusing solely on punishment after incidents occur often means the damage has already been done,” he explained.
Taiwan’s Premier Cho Jung-tai said Thursday the government will strengthen national security by updating civil servant background checks. A proposal is expected within two weeks, with plans to refine vetting based on access to classified data and introduce regular or random reviews.
China sees Taiwan as a breakaway province that must eventually reunite, even by force if necessary, even though the democratic island has been self-governing since it effectively separated from mainland China in 1949 after the Chinese civil war.
Beijing views Lai, a pro-independence advocate, as a separatist and has increased military drills, economic pressure, and diplomatic isolation to counter his leadership.
Edited by Taejun Kang and Mike Firn.
This content originally appeared on Radio Free Asia and was authored by Alan Lu for RFA.