No. 16, November 28, 2019

According to Australian media, Wang Liqiang, a self-claimed Chinese spy fugitive, has recently defected to Australia and exposed how China conducts political interference activities overseas, including in Taiwan.
(Photo from: United Daily News)

● Featured News: DPP Plays China-Phobic Card: Fake Spy is Fraudster, Self-Claimed Interference in Taiwan Elections Bogus

● Featured Interview: Exclusive Interview: Former Deputy Director of Military Intelligence Bureau Says Account by Self-Claimed Chinese Spy is Non-Sense
● Featured Editorial: If Wang Was Truly a Chinese Spy Who Sabotaged Taiwan’s Elections
● Featured Opinion: Social Media Cyber-Warfare in Elections: A Jungle Without Rules
● This Week in Taiwan: Other Important Events This Week

DPP Plays China-Phobic Card: Fake Spy is Fraudster, Self-Claimed Interference in Taiwan Elections Bogus

China Times, November 24, 2019

 

Shortly after 2020 election registrations for candidates in Taiwan, some Australian news media reported on November 23 Wang “William” Liqiang, a self-proclaimed Chinese secret operative, confessed to Australian intelligence department that he had meddled in 2018 elections in Taiwan, including donating 20 million yuan (about US$2.8 million) to Kaohsiung Mayor Han Kuo-yu, now KMT presidential candidate, last year. For this, the Shanghai Police Department released a “situation report” late at night that abruptly reversed the nature of the case. The police department indicated that Wang Liqiang is a convicted fugitive, his three passports are all forgeries.

 

The Shanghai Police Department indicated in the dead of the night on the 23rd that Wang Liqiang had been a convicted swindler who was sentenced to one year and three months in prison for fraud by Guangze County Court in Fujian with a suspended sentence of a year and a half. In February 2019, under the pretense of importing foreign automobiles, a person surnamed Su was chicaned 4.6 million yuan (about US$653,000) by him. Since April 19, Wang has been under police investigation for fraud.

 

Sydney Morning Herald uncovered Wang Liqiang’s defection to the Australian government, revealing mainland China’s intention to interfere in Taiwan’s elections in 2020. To this,Taiwan's Presidential Office Spokesman Alex Huang expressed that the government is to take much account of the case, while national security agencies have already gotten hold of the situation. He emphasized that China’s interfering and meddling of Taiwan’s elections are not a secret. The National Security Bureau (NSB) responded that it has already integrated and concerted various national security agencies to face squarely on the situations.

 

In face of the situation, the DPP Caucus of the Legislative Yuan will speedily propose the enactment of an anti-infiltration law and push directly to the second reading on the 29th. DPP Caucus leader Ker Chien-ming said that whether the law can pass the third reading in this term depends on KMT’s attitude.

 

According to various foreign media reports, Wang Liqiang presented a 17-page document to the Australian authority for seeking political asylum, revealing granular details of his covert spying activities. He also showed three travel documents, including a mainland China passport, Hong Kong permanent residency card and a forged South Korean passport; holder of the latter passport can be waived of visa for entering into Taiwan.

 

Wang Liqiang declared that he had established armed forces in Taiwan to launch all-out attacks on Taiwan’s elections through navy, army and air force ways. Air force means to funnel money to websites and news media; army means to bribe mainland Chinese and Hong Kong students, mainland Chinese tourists visiting Taiwan to promote China’s unification strategy; navy means contributing money directly to the candidates. He claimed that the most typical case was the $20 million-yuan donation (about US$2.8 million) to KMT presidential candidate Han Kuo-yu by overseas sources via Hong Kong.

 

Pinpointing to the Chinese spy’s meddling into Taiwan’s elections, Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) warned China on the 23rd that Taiwan’s democratic systems are not allowed for encroachment, and that the Taiwan government will reinforce its prevention and security management measures so as to safeguard next year’s elections to be conducted on a fair and just basis.

 

China’s Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) of the State Council Spokesman Ma Xiaoguang expressed last night that China has never involved in Taiwan’s elections, and the related reports are totally unfounded.

 

From: https://www.chinatimes.com/newspapers/20191124000445-260102

In an interview, former Deputy Director Ong Yen-ching of the Military Intelligence Bureau, Ministry of National Defense, said that the amateurish account by Wang is non-sense and full of lies.
(Photo from: United Daily News)

Exclusive Interview: Former Deputy Director of Military Intelligence Bureau Says Account by Self-Claimed Chinese Spy is Non-Sense

United Daily News, November 24, 2019

In an interview by Australian media, Wang Liqiang, a self-proclaimed Chinese spy, said that he was involved in the kidnapping case of the Causeway Bay bookseller in Hong Kong and in financing Kaohsiung Mayor Han Kuo-yu, now KMT presidential candidate, in the election last year. As he “does not want to see Taiwan become another Hong Kong,” Wang decided to apply for political asylum in Australia.

 

However, Ong Yen-ching, former deputy director of the Military Intelligence Bureau (MIB) of the Ministry of National Defense, indicated that, from what Wang revealed in the said interview, we can easily tell that he is not a Chinese spy. Wang claimed to be one because he can then apply for political asylum, seek for legal residency in Australia, and avoid being extradited back to China.

 

Ong has served in Taiwan’s MIB for 35 years. He retired in 2000 in the capacity of Lieutenant General. In recent years, he also published a book entitled Chinese Intelligence Organizations and Espionage Activities. In his career, he is famed for confirming the death of Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping firsthand and for successfully inciting defection of People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Senior Colonel Shaw Chen-Chong and Major General Liu Lian, among others.

 

When asked for elaboration on Wang’s story, Ong indicated that, in the interview, Wang said he worked for PLA General Staff but did not mention the unit he worked with and his rank and job descriptions. As a matter of fact, after Xi’s military reform, PLA General Staff was renamed PLA Joint Staff. The purview of the intelligence unit under PLA Joint Staff is the gathering of military intelligence. The peddling of political influence in Taiwan is not one of them.

 

What is more, the kidnapping of Lam Wing Kee, the bookseller of the Causeway Bay Bookstore, is done by Chinese Public Security Bureau. Therefore, Wang said he was involved in the case is a total lie.

 

In the world of espionage, linear leadership is the norm. Wang said he reported to two superiors and was responsible for both Hong Kong and Taiwan affairs. This is not possible. In addition, in espionage, there is always disguised identity for operative abroad, but only one fake identity for each mission. The operative will not have multiple IDs in one time, for once it’s found that he has different fake passports, he is easily exposed.

 

Further, Wang said that his wife is also a spy and was assigned to Australia.  This is further away from the norm, Ong indicated. Ong explained that Chinese secret agent’s family always remains in China to prevent the agent from defecting. Even if both the husband and wife are agents, only one would be posted abroad at one time. But according to Wang, not only are his wife and him posted abroad, he can visit his wife and new-born baby in Australia. This is a total violation of the normal practice in the world of espionage.

 

Last but not least, when handling defecting foreign agent, every country in the world seeks to carefully hide and protect this asset, providing him with new identity to prevent him from being assassinated by his own Government. If Wang is a Chinese spy, how come the Australian Government let him talk to the media about his work in public?

 

For those who illegally enter a foreign country, the most common way to get legal status is to claim that he or she is a political prisoner and will be prosecuted once extradited back to his own country.

 

So one reasonable guess is that Australia found Wang lied and is going to deny him asylum, which made Wang resort to the media to force his asylum case.

 

From: https://udn.com/vote2020/story/120838/4185036?from=udn_ch2_menu_main

 Featured Editorial

If Wang Were Truly a Chinese Spy Who Sabotaged Taiwan’s Elections

The Storm Media Editorial, November 25, 2019

 

The Tsai administration claimed with much fanfare that China intervened in Taiwan election the whole year, and it so happened that in Australia burst a Chinese spy who not only handed materials to Australian intelligence authority but also accepted interview with Australian media claiming he participated in intelligence works from kidnapping Hong Kong Causeway Bay Publisher case to buying Taiwanese media and candidate (Han Kuo-yu) and much more. If Wang Liqiang were a genuine Chinese spy, with such level of China’s intelligence work against Taiwan as Wang’s case at issue, Taiwan can sit back and relax for its security.

 

According to the Shanghai Public Security Bulletin, Wang Liqiang is a fraud criminal at large, his fraud is not for intelligence but for fabricating car import to gain over 4 million yuan (about US$568,000), holding a forged passport to leave China and arrive in Australia. Wang claimed that he held Hong Kong and South Korean passports and was instructed to enter Taiwan on May 28 with South Korean passport; his duty was to influence Taiwan election. If what he claimed were true, the possibility of his entry into Taiwan was very slim unless those Taiwanese customs officers were blindfolded because the passport he showed to Australia was not only forged but forged incomplete; what he filled in the Korean name column on the right lower corner was not Wong Kang as he claimed but a female name as Tsao Ming Jing.

 

According to his statement, if he did not perform his Taiwan task, the Chinese authorities would put him to death and his family and parents would also be implicated. The Immigration Administration expressed that there was no entry record as he claimed. Whether he did come to Taiwan at the end of May or not, at this moment, he accepted interview with media in high profile with the intention to stay in Australia and reunite with his family; but his family and parents would be implicated was bound to happen all the same, he seemed not to mind at all.

 

Mr. Ong Yan Ching, former deputy director of the Military Intelligence Bureau, Ministry of National Defense, and author of China’s Intelligence Organization and Espionage Activities, listed 10 dubious points to question the illogic statement of Wang, the key points include: (1) Wang was instructed by General Staff Headquarters to participate in Hong Kong Causeway Bay Publisher case, but he did not know the office had changed name to Joint Staff Headquarters, he even didn’t know which office under the headquarters was responsible for intelligence work.(2) National Defense Science and Technology Commission is not an intelligence office. (3) Wang had been only 26 years old, too young to be responsible for intelligence work against Taiwan. (4) Overseas mission always covered a single area, it was impossible to cover both Hong Kong and Taiwan. (5) Hong Kong Causeway Publisher case was handled by Chinese Public Security Bureau, and had nothing to do with General Staff Headquarters. The conclusion of Ong was: “He talked total non-sense”.

 

We can ignore if what Wang said is non-sense, however his claim of Taiwan task as pinpointed to influence Taiwan’s election is not something insignificant. According to his statement, he ”participated directly to manipulate”, setting up “air, sea and land forces” in the embodiment of establishing over 200 thousand Democratic Progressive Party cyber accounts and numerous net fans group to manipulate network bullying; funding Taiwan network companies and media, for media alone over 1.5 billion yuan (about US$213 million)! Organizing Hong Kong students and tourist groups to launch “United Front”; and directly funded Han by way of overseas contribution with over 20 million yuan (about US$2.8 million) from Hong Kong alone. His conclusion was the landslide election victory of Nationalist Party was their ”success of manipulation.”

 

His statement was both virtual and real. Launching massive five dime cyber accounts against Taiwan was started long before last year. Putting all cyber accounts success under his credit is something Beijing would not agree; the key point here is that the public opinion environment in Taiwan, the fiercer the offensive of five dime accounts against Taiwan election may be counterproductive. Taking for instance, recently President Tsai Ing-wen took to heart over the tempering DPP policy video by posted pictures, who would believe the Tsai administration supporting One Country Two Systems simply because of these tampered pictures? On the contrary, those tampered video would be only counterproductive—the tampering cyber army was not only unprofessional but also hateful.

 

As to his assertion for spending over 1.5 billion yuan (about US$213 million) on Taiwan media and funding Taiwan election candidates is downright a criminal behavior. Taiwan is particularly sensitive to mainland Chinese capital, any media even desires to earn money from mainland China, its unknown source of money will be subject to severe penalty and punishment, even its license will encounter difficulty for renewal. Wang pinpointed four major Taiwanese television stations in Australia rendering them “a bolt from the blue”. As a consequence, the National Communication Commission (NCC) asked these four TV stations for explanation. Unable to verify the capital neither the connection, the only effect for NCC was to interfere. But Wang’s accusation was too strong for NCC to keep hands off but to interfere. It’s lamentable that NCC had repeatedly urged media not to spread false information, false news, apart from interfering the media, it could not achieve “fact checking”. 

 

It is only forty some days away from the general election, in this explosive international media coverage, the only victim is KMT presidential candidate Han Kuo-yu. In the local elections last year, similar accusation was emerged then, Han had sworn then if he received a dime from China, he would withdraw from the election. He would never expect after just one year, he has to make another much severer swear. The key point is according to political contribution act, mainland Chinese capital, foreign capital and Hong Kong capital contribution are all on the ban list. Any candidate of the opposition party, to campaign for mayor or president, not any dime of contribution can escape from the national supervision. 20 million yuan (about US$2.8 million) (as claimed by Wang Liqiang), unlike NT$3 million (about US$98,000) on the high speed rail, can be packed in a luggage.

 

To thoroughly investigate Han’s inappropriate contribution funding would not be a problem for National Security or Financing Supervisory authorities. The problem is a groundless overseas accusation case as long as someone believes, it will be detrimental. Mayor Ko Wen-je simply said ”in the budget of Chinese Communist Party there is no funding item, once budget is approved, funding will be carried out by money laundering”, which media in Hong Kong received how much funding , in fact some of these are known beforehand but why not expose or reveal?” sounds testimony to Wang’s accusation. Despite Mayor Ko afterwards added another sentence “actually what happened he didn’t have the slightest idea”—this is an attempt to influence the election. He who believes will  always believe, and he who does not believe will always disbelieve.

 

What Mayor Ko said was right, that the attempt of China to influence Taiwan election is expectable is nothing weird; what is weird is, surprisingly Taiwan muses and itches to testify China’s influence so as to suppress some candidates’ campaigns. This is true of President Tsai, and even Mayor Ko is no exception. When the result of this general election comes out, it does not matter which group of candidates wins the election or which party, big or small, benefits, there are always ways to make “China influence” an issue from positive or negative perspective. What is comforting is such a “Chinese spy” definitely will not shake Taiwan security at all.

From: https://www.storm.mg/article/1986749

Social Media Cyber-Warfare in Elections: A Jungle Without Rules

By Professor Su Herng, Department of Journalism, National Chengchi University

United Daily News, November 24, 2019

 

Will the Ministry of National Defense send soldiers to learn fighting skills from Internet celebrity Holger Chen, popularly known as “Kuan Chang,” , a martial arts gym owner? Is this a Steve Martin comic movie plot or does the Ministry really show its lowest limit? I wish I read it wrong. Will the U.S. Navy Sea, Air, and Land (SEAL) Teams send its soldiers to learn fighting skills from the stars of AXN wrestling programs? Or will China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) send its people to learn martial arts skills from the monks of the Shaolin Temple? Is this real or fictitious?

 

Why is the Defense Ministry so impractical? Its true intent is not on improving fighting skills, but on Internet marketing. Its purpose is to use social media to attract attention for the ruling party in election campaign, so as to gain more votes.

 

Several Japanese scholars came to Taiwan to observe elections recently, and they were surprised by the chaos of Taiwan’s media. One professor asked me, “Since  Taiwan’s media is so biased and the Internet fora are so one-sided, is there any solution?” He told me that in Japan, at least judicial system or third-party independent public institution can make objective judgments.

 

During this year’s election campaigns, the gap of how the two major political parties use media are very wide. Kaohsiung Mayor Han Kuo-yu is strong in using ground forces in attracting crowds. His television and Internet footages show his charisma in mobilizing supporters to solidify his base. As to the air power, in addition to Mayor Han’s own official websites and some TV news channels like the CTI TV, there are only a handful of pro-Han grassroots Internet celebrities like

Chen Chin-mao and Uncle Wenshan.

 

President Tsai Ing-wen uses social media quite heavily. She uses a lot of YouTube direct broadcasts and works with Internet celebrities to increase exposure. Her “Ing-wen Ing-wen” program has cooperated with Internet celebrity Tsai A-ga to air comic micro movies. President Tsai’s Internet programs contain “Where does Tsai go?” and “What does a President do” for soft issues. She also uses Wu Nian-jen’s Internet channels and “Spicy Taiwanese Faction Speaks Out” channels to gain advantages. The wide-spread slogan “Today’s Hong Kong is Tomorrow’s Taiwan” is actually the revival of the slogan during the Sunflower Movement. The Tsai campaign uses Hong Kong’s protests to manipulate the sense of impending national demise to the utmost. 

 

The contrast of the splendid Internet army of Tsai Ying-wen and the poor and weak power of Mayor Han is like aircraft carriers to small fishing boats.

 

Twitter Taiwan was the earliest social medium that announced it would not accept electoral political advertisements. Its reason is that the fake news is rampant during election seasons. Twitter’s Chairman Jack Dorsey said that the influence of political advertisements is too huge that it can affect the voting results of thousands and millions of voters. Google Taiwan also followed suit that it would not accept electoral advertisements for the time being. Why? These companies see, more or less, the possible damages to democracy, if political figures abuse social media in election campaigns.

 

In 2018, the European Union stated that there should be some restrictions on media during election periods. It further proposed a supervisory framework to encourage and promote pluralistic expression of opinions. The E.U. pointed out that during election periods, broadcasting, television, Internet, or social media should treat candidates with fairness, balance, and justice, so as to ensure people’s freedom of choice.

 

The big data-oriented advertisements and contents have developed into global businesses with revenues of billions of U.S. dollars. However, election and recall laws in many countries do not have regulations on how political parties and their affiliated organizations can spend money to purchase advertisements.

 

After a 10-month study and consultation period, the United Kingdom has proposed to initiate the transparency mechanisms of Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube, on which a political party can budget its contents, thinking that the social media are also responsible for maintaining the neutrality and fairness of the contents of the Internet platforms during election periods.

 

However, there is no such discussion, let alone regulation, on this subject in Taiwan. This is deeply worrisome.

 

Differences exist between digital political advertisements and print or traditional TV advertisements. The advertisements received by mobile phones or tablets can be easily customized by individual’s behavior. Different voters may receive different digital advertisements. It is worrisome that these technologies can differentiate receivers with different political inclinations, and by using calculations, various misleading messages of voting can be transmitted. 

 

Currently, the laws do not apply to Internet advertisements. Therefore, political parties can conceal their identities and political purposes when transmitting messages. Elections may be the basic tools of democracy, but the applications of technology must be regulated. If one side possesses hugely asymmetric power in social media, and if that power is abused, then the fairness of elections will naturally be affected.

From: https://udn.com/news/story/11321/4183966

November 18: The Tsai administration claims that its policies encouraging overseas Taiwanese businesses to invest in Taiwan have achieved great results, with investment reaching nearly NT$700 billion (about US$23 billion). But in his response to interpellation by KMT Legislator Tseng Ming-chung, Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs Lin Chuan-neng acknowledged that investment funds which have returned to Taiwan is zero because the NT$255 billion (about US$8.4 billion) fulfilled so far all comprise of domestic funds. The exchange has stirred public outcry.

November 19: Internet celebrity Holger Chen, more popularly known as “Kuan Chang” for gym manager, announced that he expects to spend NT$20 million (about US$656,000) to build a training center for the Armed Forces to do muscle strength and martial arts training. The Ministry of National Defense plans to send 40 people to receive month-long training from Chen and then return to their respective units to share what they have learned. Many have regarded the arrangement as unprofessional and controversial.

November 22: In Taitung, President Tsai Ing-wen claimed that 45 years ago, the Executive Yuan built a low-level nuclear waste storage site on Taiwan’s Orchid Island without the consent of the indigenous Yami people. President Tsai apologized to Lanyu residents and announced that the government would provide NT$2.55 billion (about US$83.6 million) in retroactive compensation. Since its opening in 1982, Lanyu has stored 10,277 barrels of nuclear waste. The head of Lanyu Township said that nuclear waste becomes an issue every time elections are held, but the desire of residents to relocate the nuclear waste has remained unfulfilled.

November 22: The candidacy registrations for the legislative elections on January 11, 2020 have closed. According to Central Election Commission (CEC) statistics, there are a total of 217 candidates from 19 political parties vying for 34 nationwide at-large legislator seats. Another 433 people are contending for 73 constituency legislator and six aboriginal legislator seats, reflecting fierce competition.

November 22: The Executive Yuan compiled a special budget of NT$247.2 billion (about US$8.1 billion) to purchase 66 F-16V (Block 70) fighter jets from the United States. In its review of the special budget for the arms procurement, the Legislative Yuan only reduced the budget for NT$10 million (about US$327,000). The military is expected to sign a price offer with the United States in December.

November 23: At the 56th Golden Horse Awards, Taiwanese film A Sun won six awards including best film, best director, best actor, and the audience vote and is the biggest winner of this year. Detention, came second with five awards. Mainland China and Hong Kong did not participate this year, as the Golden Rooster Awards were held the same day, supposedly to boycott Taiwan’s Golden Horse Awards.

Taiwan Weekly is a newsletter released every week by Fair Winds Foundation, Taipei Forum, and Association of Foreign Relations that provides coverage and perspectives into the latest developments in Taiwan.

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