覇麗 大美都孫

3 key suspects in a massive Chinese espionage ring targeting TSMC and Taiwan's military mysteriously died of illness right before prosecutors could fully unpack the network. The sudden deaths of Hong Kong operative Ding Xiaohu and two of his top network lieutenants have left critical gaps in tracing Beijing's covert reach. Before his death, Ding worked under instructions from a Chinese military intelligence unit to recruit Taiwanese officers and funnel over NT$11 million into covert operations. The spy ring didn't just target military readiness. They recruited Chen Zhi-jian, a former deputy manager at TSMC, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, to launch the covert "Blue Ocean Project". Chen allegedly copied 21 core national technology secrets from TSMC to help build a rival semiconductor firm in mainland China. Taiwanese authorities managed to recover the stolen files before they crossed the border, and six military officers have since been sentenced to prison terms up to eight years. While officials cite natural illness, the timing has raised serious concerns about foreign influence operations silencing key figures to protect intelligence assets.