Taiwan Tati Cultural and Educational Foundation

The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) yesterday confirmed to the Taipei Times that US authorities are assisting Taiwan with an investigation into the activities of General Lo Hsien-che (羅賢哲), who was arrested last month on suspicion of spying for China.

Lo’s espionage activity, described as possibly the worst spy case to hit Taiwan in the past half century, is believed to have begun in 2004 when he was recruited by Chinese intelligence while he was posted in Thailand. News of the arrest sparked fears that Taiwan’s military might have been severely compromised, especially its command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) systems, to which Lo is believed to have had access.

The arrest of Lo Hsien-che, a major general in the Republic of China in-exile Army, on espionage charges has caused a pall on rosy reports about a cross-strait thaw in relations between the ROC and the People’s Republic of China.  

Whether military secrets of the United States were the goal of Chinese spying or the security of Taiwan was the target is unknown.  General Lo was well positioned to compromise Taiwan’s defense but the extent of damage to U.S. military secrets was likely limited say Washington observers.  Past weapons sales to Taiwan have been restricted to partial capabilities out of spying concerns.