Coast Guard junior lieutenant denied bail in alleged Chinese spy case

A junior lieutenant in Taiwan's Coast Guard is facing charges of espionage for allegedly leaking military secrets to China. The officer, identified by the surname Deng, is accused of receiving nearly 100,000 yuan for his alleged activities between 2023 and 2025.

Prosecutors allege that Deng leaked classified information and filmed videos expressing support for communism after meeting individuals online known by the nicknames "Jixiang" and "Hani." He was indicted in mid-April by the Taiwan High Prosecutors Office on charges including violations of the Anti-Corruption Act and the National Security Act.

Following his indictment, Deng was brought before the court for a hearing on his continued detention. He requested bail, arguing that he had confessed to the charges, was cooperating fully with the investigation, and had no means to contact co-defendants as his phone was seized. He also stated he lived with his mother and had no travel history, thus posing no flight risk.

However, the court rejected his bail request. Judges cited the severity of the charges, noting that the minimum sentence for the crimes he is accused of is 10 years. They also pointed to the existence of multiple co-defendants with potential conflicts of interest, concluding that Deng still posed a risk of fleeing or colluding with others. The ruling means Deng will remain in detention pending further proceedings, though he has the right to appeal.