US journalist admits acting as illegal agent for China; scholar urges Taiwan to follow suit

An American journalist who previously worked for Chinese state media has pleaded guilty to acting as an illegal agent for the Chinese government. Thomas Pauken II admitted in a U.S. court on June 4 to being part of a conspiracy to obtain sensitive information. He faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, with his sentencing scheduled for September 1. This case highlights concerns about foreign influence operations.

In response to Pauken's guilty plea, a Taiwanese scholar urged Taiwan to emulate the United States' approach to combating foreign infiltration. Ye Yao-yuan, a professor of international studies at St. Thomas University, stated that laws against illegal agents are necessary because their actions endanger national security. He emphasized that while balancing individual freedoms with national security is a legal challenge, the importance of national security should not be compromised.

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The importance of national security should not be replaced by anything.

Ye specifically called on Taiwan to implement similar anti-infiltration legislation to counter Chinese influence, drawing a parallel with the U.S. use of its Foreign Agents Registration Act. He expressed little hope for action from Taiwan's current legislative body but stressed that Taiwanese voters should recognize the significance of this issue. The scholar's remarks underscore the perceived threat of foreign interference and the need for robust legal frameworks to protect national interests.

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When the United States uses agent laws to deal with China's infiltration, Taiwan should do the same.