Kinmen Coast Guard Officer Charged with Leaking Secrets to China

A squad leader with Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration in Kinmen is facing a five-year prison sentence and a hefty fine for allegedly leaking classified information to China over a four-year period. Prosecutors accuse the official, identified only as Chen, of providing sensitive details about cross-strait smuggling and criminal cases to Chinese authorities between 2017 and 2021.

The alleged leaks were facilitated by Chen's elementary school classmate, who was involved in smuggling shrimp fry between Kinmen and mainland China. This classmate reportedly connected with a Chinese individual who was later absorbed by the Chinese People's Armed Police's coast guard. The classmate then requested information from Chen to aid their smuggling operations and to provide intelligence to the Chinese coast guard.

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The coast guard squad leader, responsible for investigating smuggling and illegal immigration in the Kinmen sea area, allegedly leaked official secrets, images, or documents that should have been kept confidential to the Chinese Coast Guard, totaling 15 offenses.

Prosecutors stated that Chen, in his role as a law enforcement officer, compromised national security by divulging confidential information, including radar data, fishing vessel inspection records, and details of smuggling investigations. This alleged breach exposed frontline law enforcement dynamics and defense vulnerabilities. While Chen has reportedly confessed and shown remorse, prosecutors argue the severity of the leaks warrants a significant penalty. The Coast Guard Administration has already dismissed the accused squad leader and is investigating related personnel for supervisory failures.

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As a law enforcement officer of the Coast Guard Administration, he prioritized personal connections over law and discipline, leaking classified data, investigation records, and information on illegal immigrants to smugglers, which eventually flowed to the Chinese Coast Guard.