Court sentences ex-coast guard member for spyingBy Sam Garcia / Staff writer, with CNAThe Kaohsiung branch of the High Court today sentenced a former member of the coast guard to seven years and eight months in prison for leaking national and military secrets to China for almost two years, earning more than NT$580,000 (US$18,403) in criminal proceeds. The defendant, surnamed Lee (李), was suspended after the case came to light, the Coast Guard Administration said, adding that he later resigned. Lee had served as a member of the coast guard’s southern fleet branch since 2022, the court said in a statement. Although driven by his family’s financial needs, Lee’s actions endangered national security and damaged public morale in the defense of freedom and democracy, the court said. The court found him guilty of breaching his duties by accepting bribes and intentionally endangering national security by delivering confidential documents, electronic records and state secrets to China.

Source: Taipei Times January 06, 2026 09:51 UTC