Taiwan’s military and high-level prosecutors exposed a spy plot at the end of July, leading to the indictment last month of 10 individuals on charges of “violating duties, accepting bribes, and collecting military secrets.” According to reports on Monday from Taiwan media outlets, including 中時新聞網 (Chinatimes) and 《周刊王》(Weekly King), investigations revealed that a Taiwanese Army colonel surnamed Xie, currently in custody, had conspired with businessman Xie Bingcheng to defect using a CH-47 helicopter in exchange for $15 million and permanent residency in Thailand. The plan was to fly to the Chinese Shandong aircraft carrier during military exercises in the Taiwan Strait. However, the colonel was arrested before the defection attempt, thwarting the plan.
Xie, along with Xie Bingcheng, had been invited to Thailand by Chinese security officials, promising to facilitate visas for Xie’s family and prioritize their evacuation from Taiwan in the event of war, offering monthly payments of approximately NT$200,000. The condition was that Colonel Xie had to pilot the CH-47SD “Chinook” helicopter to defect to China.
In June of this year, Xie Bingcheng conveyed orders from China, instructing Colonel Xie to land the helicopter on the Shandong carrier when it passed through the Taiwan Strait. However, citing high risks, Colonel Xie initially refused. The Chinese authorities then increased the incentives, pledging $15 million as an initial reward upon successful defection, with a deposit of $1-2 million to be paid before the mission’s execution. Despite being enticed, Colonel Xie’s arrest by Taiwanese authorities, in collaboration with the military and high-level prosecutors, foiled the plan.
Taiwan’s military stated on the 11th that the case originated from an internal tip, prompting joint efforts by the military and national security units to conduct counterintelligence investigations. The authorities have implemented control measures to minimize damage and reinforced security measures.
Commenting on the incident, a Taiwan media report, including 《聯合報》(United Daily News), criticized the notion of the Chinese offering $15 million to induce a Taiwanese military officer to defect, calling it a “joke.” The commentary argued that the idea of China enticing a pilot to defect with a specific helicopter model was illogical. The article highlighted the impracticality of a single pilot operating a CH-47 helicopter, emphasizing the complexities of pre-flight checks and the necessary ground personnel and security personnel for helicopter management.
Moreover, the report questioned the feasibility of the defection plan, noting the substantial distances involved, the heightened alert levels in the Taiwan Strait during Chinese naval exercises, and the vigilance of both Taiwanese and U.S. forces in the region. The article concluded that, given the tense cross-strait situation, such military narratives attract public attention, providing opportunities for sensationalism but ultimately lack credibility.
In essence, the commentary suggested that beneath the veneer of national defense concerns, there might be underlying motives driven by personal gain and publicity-seeking in Taiwanese political circles and societies.
