Two Chinese nationals have been barred from leaving Taiwan as investigators probe their alleged involvement in a spying operation.
One of the pair, Xiang Xin, is the CEO of China Innovation Investment, a company that has allegedly served as a front for Chinese efforts to undermine Taiwan’s democracy. Self-proclaimed Chinese spy Wang Liqiang has appeared on an Australian TV show claiming that he was involved in the company’s efforts to interfere in Taiwan’s election. He says that Xiang was the one who recruited him for this work.
The justice ministry’s investigation bureau arrested Xiang and his wife Sunday as they were about to board a plane at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport. Authorities found that the couple has often visited Taiwan. The two say that this time, they had come to Taiwan to visit friends and discuss business matters.
The couple was transferred Monday to the Taipei District Prosecutor’s Office on suspicion of breaching the National Security Act. On Tuesday, the prosecutor’s office imposed an exit ban preventing the couple from leaving Taiwan.