Senior Taiwanese officer arrested for spying for China

Taipei May 10 (IANS) A senior military official who once headed Taiwan s Air Defence Missile Command was arrested for alleged espionage in favour of China the Taiwan Defence Ministry said on Wednesday.

Major General Hsieh Chia-kang deputy chief of the Army s command for the defence of Matsu a small island off the coast of China s Fujian Province has been arrested Efe news reported.

Hsieh was head of the missile command which consists of several important battalions and missiles -- Patriot III Sky Bow II and III and HAWK as well as strategic counterattack missiles (ground-to-ground) and Hsiung Feng missiles.

Investigation Bureau agents on Tuesday searched Hsieh s residence in Pingtung and arrested him.

He was questioned and later turned over to the Ciaotou District Prosecutors Office.

Taiwan s Defence Ministry said it suspected that Hsieh has been hired by China not only to spy but also to create a spy network.

In recent years there have been several cases of espionage by Taiwanese military and security agents in favour of China but most were retired officers.

--IANS
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