Taiwan probes two executives for security law breaches over China meddling claims

China Innovation Investment

26/11/2019 24:08

TAIPEI, Nov 26 (Reuters) - Taiwan is investigating two
executives at a Hong Kong-listed company on suspicion of
violating the National Security Act, Taiwan's official Central
News Agency said on Tuesday, after they were named in a report
about Chinese meddling.
    The company, China Innovation Investment Limited  1217.HK ,
said on Monday executive director Xiang Xin and alternate
director Kung Ching had been stopped at Taipei's main airport
and asked to cooperate in a probe into Australian media reports
about Chinese interference in Hong Kong and Taiwan.
 urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL4N28529G urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL4N2850B3
    The allegations were made by a Chinese asylum seeker in
Australia, Wang Liqiang, who said he was a Chinese spy. China
says the man is a convicted fraudster.
    Wang said he was part of an intelligence operation working
within China Innovation Investment to infiltrate Hong Kong
universities and media with pro-Communist Party operatives to
counter the territory's democracy movement.
    The company said the reports were "fictitious and forged"
and that Wang had never been an employee. Hong Kong has been
rocked by months of anti-government protests.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL4N2851ES
    Xiang and Kung were referred to the Taipei District
Prosecutors Office on Monday night for "further investigation on
suspicion of violating the National Security Act", the Central
News Agency said.
    They have also been ordered not to leave Taiwan, the report
said.
    The company did not respond immediately to a request for
comment on Tuesday. It said on Monday the two had retained
Taiwan lawyers but it was not immediately clear who they were.
    Wang had also given details about Chinese efforts to meddle
in Taiwan's political system and elections. 
    Taiwan, claimed by China as its sacred territory, is already
on high alert for Chinese attempts at disinformation and
intimidation ahead of Jan. 11 elections for the presidency and
legislature.

 (Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Paul Tait)
 ((ben.blanchard@thomsonreuters.com;))