Name: CCP Offered $15 Million to Taiwanese Pilot to Defect With US-Made Army Helicopter
Uploaded: 2023-12-12T09:41:49.000Z
Description: A Taiwanese pilot was offered $15 million by communist China to land a U.S.-made CH-47 Chinook helicopter on a People’s Liberation Army (PLA) navy aircraft carrier.

NTD Newsroom comprises teams of reporters, editors, and producers assigned to cover breaking news and other stories.


NTD Newsroom

NTD Plus

Shows

Fast, compelling, first-hand news from China. China in Focus airs Monday–Friday at 9:30 p.m. ET.

China in Focus

NATO Promises Trump Arctic Security

Vivian Li is a producer and reporter based at NTD’s global headquarters in New York City. With more than a decade of experience as a reporter and anchor for NTD’s Chinese-language division, she now primarily contributes to NTD’s English-language program China in Focus.

Vivian Li

China Pushes AI Education From Kindergarten to College

China Expands Export Curbs on Dozens of Japanese Firms

Australia Ships $1.7 Billion Tech to Canada for Arctic Defense

The Global AI Race: US Pushes Back Against China’s Cheaper Models

China Reviews Draft Law That Targets Foreign, US Sanctions

Tiffany Meier is an anchor, China news investigative reporter, and producer for NTD News based at the network's global headquarters in New York City. Tiffany anchors NTD's flagship shows "NTD Evening News" and "China in Focus" and co-moderates NTD's special election coverage "The Nation Decides." She produced the award-winning NTD Original documentary "Hollywood Takeover: China's Control in the Film Industry."


Tiffany Meier

Expert Unpacks China’s Cyber Threats on US Infrastructure

Chinese EV Maker Demands $23.7 Million From Small Michigan Town

Juliet Song is an international correspondent exclusively covering China news for NTD. She primarily contributes to NTD's "China in Focus," covering U.S.-China relations, the Chinese regime's human rights abuses, and domestic unrest inside China.

Juliet Song

Alibaba Sues Pentagon for Chinese Military Designation

South Korean Chip Workers in High Demand at Work and Marriage

Mass Protest Forces Chinese Authorities to Concede; Refugee to Navy Chief: Hung Cao's Full Circle Journey

China Expands Export Curbs on Japan; China Pushes AI in All Classrooms

Trump Sounds Alarm on Communism; Shen Yun Back in Toronto Despite Earlier Hoax Threats

Alibaba Sues Pentagon; Beijing Weaponizes US Courts to Silence Critics

China Builds US Destroyer Replica at Missile Test Site; US Breaks China Mineral Monopolies

US, China Court Brazil Over Rare Earths; One in Ten Chinese Adults Face Debt Problems

Taiwan Begins Drill Simulating War; China Sanctions US Rare Earth, Defense Firms

Ukrainian Drone Makers Target Asian Markets; Taiwan Approves $6.7 Billion Drone Defense Plan

Trump Thanks Xi, Putin for Their 'Neutrality'; US Embassy Warns Travelers of China Exit Bans

US, Japan Reaffirm Indo-Pacific Partnership; US Senate Condemns Xi Jinping

NTD+ is a streaming platform featuring exclusive programming, investigative news analysis, and award-winning documentaries.


NTD+

Shorts

Alleged Reflecting Pool Vandalism Caught on Video

The Associated Press is an American not-for-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. 

The Associated Press

News

World News

Americas

Helicopter With Singer Oliver Tree on Passenger List Collides With Another in Brazil, Killing 6

News you can trust from the U.S. and around the world. Critical information and insight. We cover the stories that others don’t. NTD News Today airs Monday–Friday at 11 a.m. ET.

NTD News Today

Iran's Football Team Leaves Note of Friendship

Melanie is a reporter and editor covering world news. She has a background in environmental research.

Melanie Sun

US News

State News

California

California Governor, LA Mayor Declare Emergency Over Warehouse Fire

News with integrity, from the United States and around the world. Focused reports and analyses that shed light on major issues the world deserves to know. NTD Evening News airs daily at 6 p.m. ET.

NTD Evening News

Up to 900 Planes Grounded Worldwide Amid Engine Shortage, United CEO Says

Reuters is a news agency owned by Thomson Reuters. It employs around 2,500 journalists and 600 photojournalists in about 200 locations worldwide writing in 16 languages.

Reuters

Andrew Thomas is a reporter for NTD News primarily covering business, the economy, and technology. 

Andrew Thomas

Science &amp; Tech

NASA Reverses Evacuation Alert Order for Astronauts Aboard Space Station

Rudy Blalock is a Southern California-based daily news reporter for NTD. Originally from Michigan, he moved to California in 2017 and the sunshine and ocean have kept him here since. In his free time, he may be found underwater scuba diving, on top of a mountain hiking or snowboarding, or at home meditating—which helps fuel his active lifestyle.

Rudy Blalock

8 Dead After B-52 Bomber Crashes at Edwards Air Force Base in California

Ohio

At Least 12 People Shot at Ohio Festival, Search for Suspects Ongoing: Police

Jack Phillips is a breaking news reporter with 15 years experience who started as a local New York City reporter. Having joined The Epoch Times' news team in 2009, Jack was born and raised near Modesto in California's Central Valley. 

Jack Phillips

Middle East

UN Maritime Group to Rescue 11,000 Sailors Stranded in Middle East

Mary Man is a writer for NTD. She has traveled around the world covering China, international news, and arts and culture.

Mary Man

Daniel Monaghan is a reporter for NTD News covering culture, social issues, and education. He holds a BA in Political Science and Government.

Daniel Monaghan

China News

Epoch Times Obtains Over 2,000 Unseen Tiananmen Square Photos on 37th Anniversary of the June 4th Massacre

Label

Live

NTD+ Live

NYC Firm Hosts Book Party on Investing in Critical Minerals Beyond Beijing’s Reach

'Mineral War' Author on China's Rise, Global Response

China’s Long Arm on American Soil

Special Reports

Global Trade Under the Shadow of the 1989 Tiananmen Massacre

How Americans View China and Chinese ‘Elections’: Special Report

Countering Communism in US With Memorial for Its Victims

US Funding Chinese Communist Party Economic Growth: Experts

China's Artistic Censorship Aimed at Americans: Browde

Taiwan 2024 Special Election Coverage: China in Focus

Expert: Why Social Media Apps Are 'Legal Malware'

A Taiwanese pilot was offered $15 million by communist China to land a U.S.-made CH-47 Chinook helicopter on a People’s Liberation Army (PLA) navy aircraft carrier.

The details were revealed in a Taiwan court on Dec. 11 as part of the largest communist spy ring case in the island nation in a decade. It involves 10 people, most of whom are Taiwanese active duty and retired military personnel.

The Taiwan High Court Prosecutors Office said the Taiwanese army pilot, a lieutenant colonel with the surname Hsieh, was approached by Chinese spies in June.

According to the indictment, Taiwanese businessman Hsieh Bingcheng was recruited by Chinese communist regime’s military intelligence agency that offered him money and favorable business conditions when he was doing business in mainland China. He was instructed to build spy organizations for China in Taiwan that recruited military personnel to collect military and state secrets.

The businessman Mr. Hsieh approached Lt. Col. Hsieh and invited him to Thailand to meet with two senior officials of the Ministry of National Security of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

They promised to obtain Thai elite visas for the pilot and his family, and if a war broke out in the Taiwan Strait, China would help his family evacuate to Thailand.

They also offered Lt. Col. Hsieh a monthly payment of NT$200,000 ($6,355) on the condition that he defected by landing the CH-47 Chinook helicopter onto a PLA aircraft carrier.

Lt. Col. Hsieh planned to land the helicopter onto the PLA aircraft carrier Shandong when it approached the central line in the Taiwan Strait in a military drill on June 21. If he succeeded, the CCP would pay him $15 million reward and arrange for his wife and children in Taiwan to join him at a later date. According to prosecutors, the plot was foiled after a tip off. Lt. Col. Hsieh was arrested before he could implement the plan.

He and an army major were charged for leaking the national defense deployment and operational plans in multiple combat zones to CCP intelligence personnel through businessman Mr. Hsieh, as well as top defense projects and secret plans involving cooperation with the United States.

The Taiwan High Prosecutor's Office indicted 10 people involved in the case on Nov. 27, seven of whom are active duty military personnel.
<h2>Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense Responds</h2>
The case went public when Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan—Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee invited the Ministry of National Defense to deliver a special report on it on Dec. 11.

Chiu Kuo-cheng, minister of national defense of the Republic of China (Taiwan), told lawmakers that those involved in the case are mostly army personnel. The case was filed in May after obtaining evidence and receiving an internal tip-off. The Ministry of National Defense and National Security jointly conducted a counterintelligence investigation and requested judicial authorities investigate.

Mr. Chiu said at a press briefing on the same day that the ministry has already conducted damage control, saying that “those involved must be dealt with according to the law,” and promised the military wouldn't hide or cover up such cases.

"In recent years, the CCP has made many moves against Taiwan and recruited our people, which indeed has a major impact. However, the military has also strengthened its defense education, and many cases have been detected and handed over to the judiciary,” Mr. Chiu said.

<em>Wu Minzhou and Zhong Yuan contributed to this report.</em>

<em>From <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/china/ccp-offered-15-million-to-taiwanese-pilot-to-defect-with-us-made-army-helicopter-5545336">The Epoch Times</a></em>

Latest

Programs

china

TAIWAN

Videos

04_Top Stories

Latest Clips

Asia &amp; Pacific

Alex Wu is a U.S.-based writer for The Epoch Times focusing on Chinese society, Chinese culture, human rights, and international relations.

Alex Wu

Latest and breaking news, documentaries, movies, and lifestyle content on NTD+.
 
Empower your knowledge and elevate your spirit with NTD+, your go-to destination for truthful news, insightful documentaries, and captivating lifestyle content that enriches your life.