Taipei, April 16 (CNA) President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) said Wednesday that Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) officials and staff members will be required to report any planned travel to China in the future, amid reports of Chinese spies within his ruling party.
Speaking at the party’s Central Standing Committee meeting in Taipei, Lai, the DPP chairman, ordered the establishment of a mechanism that would require party officials and staff members to provide advanced notice of any planned travel to China, Hong Kong or Macau, and to submit a report upon their return.
Those who come in contact with individuals holding official positions in the Chinese government should follow the same reporting procedure, according to Lai.
He also stressed the importance of strengthening national security awareness and legal education among DPP officials and staff — both at the party headquarters and local chapters — as well as among aides to lawmakers and city or county councilors.
“The DPP was created in an era of authoritarian dictatorship and serves as the driving force of Taiwan’s democracy … we must hold ourselves to a high standard,” Lai said.
Those who turn their back on the DPP’s core values and betray the country for personal gain must be met with strict party sanctions, the harshest penalties by law and condemnation from society, he added.
Lai’s comments came amid ongoing espionage investigations into several DPP staff members who allegedly leaked confidential information to Chinese intelligence services while serving as assistants to DPP government officials.
One of the cases involves Ho Jen-chieh (何仁傑), a former assistant serving under Secretary-General of the National Security Council Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) during the latter’s tenure as Taiwan’s foreign minister.
Prosecutors in Taipei have detained Ho but have yet to provide details about his alleged crimes, citing nondisclosure clauses concerning ongoing investigations.
A separate espionage case involves Sheng Chu-ying (盛礎纓), a former assistant to then-Legislative Speaker You Si-kun (游錫堃). Sheng has been released on bail on the condition that he wear an electronic tag.
The DPP has expelled both Ho and Sheng from the party.
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