A commentary by Wang Hao on Facebook titled “Book Review: Analyzing the Tactics of Chinese Communist Espionage” points out the most alarming data in the book is that over 35% of Chinese espionage cases specifically target Taiwan. The frequent occurrence of espionage cases in Taiwan aligns with the research by a former CIA official in the book, indicating that China’s intelligence operations have evolved into pervasive infiltration throughout society.
“Unification Strategic Position and the Best Testing Ground for Espionage Tactics.” Wang Hao highlights, identifying the cases exposed in Taiwan recently, whether retired military personnel tempted by financial incentives, active military personnel lured through online connections, or political figures infiltrated by pro-Communist groups, all conform to the patterns revealed by the author. The espionage objectives not only involve stealing military secrets but also aim to undermine societal trust and influence democratic elections. This also explains the necessity of President Lai Ching-te’s promotion of rebuilding military courts: Establishing a specialized mechanism at the judicial level is essential to effectively address the increasingly severe military espionage problems.
Wang Hao maintains that Eftimiades also warns that espionage is not just a military and intelligence issue, but also pertains to global economic and democratic security. He points out that the technological theft carried out by China almost perfectly aligns with official strategic documents such as “Made in China 2025,” showcasing that this is a critical means of economic development and military modernization.
Furthermore, Wang Hao points out that China’s political influence operations have extended to the local governments and state-level political circles in the United States, attempting to influence democratic systems from the grassroots through united front work and financial support. This aligns with a recent report by the Washington-based think tank GTI: Taiwan must strengthen its anti-espionage legal framework, establish a “foreign agent registration system,” increase penalties, and rigorously monitor departing officials’ trips to China to avoid becoming political leverage for the CCP.
Wang Hao emphasized that it is worth noting that the Ministry of State Security of the Chinese Communist Party claimed to have “uncovered over a thousand cases of espionage from Taiwan” last year, creating an illusion of Taiwan being infiltrated by China. However, many cases such as the editor-in-chief of Taiwan’s Eight Banners Cultural and Taiwanese businessman Li Mengju seem more like “hostage diplomacy” or propaganda to instill fear.
He mentions that the research by Eftimiades provides a contrast: Genuine intelligence operations are often covert and complex, not easily showcased by Beijing. These cases of Taiwan being accused of espionage are, in fact, another facet of Beijing’s information warfare—psychological warfare.
Highlighting the valuable aspect of “Analyzing the Tactics of Chinese Communist Espionage,” Wang Hao emphasizes that it brings spies out of the mysterious shadowy world and back into the social reality: Spies could be professors, businessmen, scholars, engaging in activities through temples or academic exchanges. This serves as a reminder to Taiwanese society that countering Chinese espionage is not just the task of prosecutors or national security agencies but is a vigilance that the entire populace must possess.
Wang Hao believes that just as the author of the book states, Taiwan’s defense line is not just missiles and the military but also societal resilience and knowledge. Only by understanding the tactics of Chinese Communist espionage, nurturing critical thinking, can Taiwan protect itself in this invisible warfare.