TAIPEI—Taiwan is investigating two executives at a Hong Kong-listed company on suspicion of violating the country’s National Security Act, prosecutors said on Nov. 26, after they were named in a report about Chinese meddling.
The company, China Innovation Investment Ltd., 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.
The allegations were made by a Chinese asylum seeker in Australia, Wang Liqiang, who said he was a Chinese spy.
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. He also gave details about Chinese efforts to meddle in Taiwan’s political system and elections.
Hong Kong has been rocked by months of pro-democracy protests.
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, office spokeswoman Chen Yu-ping said by telephone.
They have also been ordered not to leave Taiwan, she said.
The pair was being probed on suspicion of “developing an organization” for foreign forces including the Chinese government, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, Chen said.
“The two litigants were very cooperative … We are looking into the purpose of their visit,” she said, adding that the pair made frequent travels to Taiwan.
The company declined to comment on Tuesday, and referred to its corporate filings. It said on Monday the two executives were staying in Taiwan to cooperate with the investigation and had retained Taiwan lawyers, but it was not immediately clear who they were.
China Arms Manufacturer Connection
Xiang, a science and technology graduate from Nanjing University of Science and Technology, is the chairman of another Hong Kong-listed company, China Trends Holdings Ltd. China Trends Holdings and China Innovation Investment in 2010 signed an MoU with a company run by major state-backed Chinese defense manufacturer China North Industries Group Corporation—also known as Norinco—to build parts for electric cars, corporate filings show.
Taiwan’s Investment Commission, which is under the Ministry of Economic Affairs, said on Monday the two executives had applied in December 2016 to invest T$100 million ($3.27 million) to set up a real estate company.
However, Taiwan rejected the application in April 2017 due to national security considerations, it said.
Chang Min-pin, the commission’s executive secretary, told Reuters that Taiwan’s defense ministry advised against the investment proposal, citing concerns over Xiang’s Norinco links.
Kung’s former post with Beijing-based China Defense Science and Technology Information Center also raised concerns, he said.
China Innovation Investment’s company profile on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange website says it is a Hong Kong-based investment holding company “principally engaged in the investment in dual usage of military and civil sectors.”
“The company’s investments mainly include military and civil dual-used charge storage batteries, new models of lighting products, eco-equipment materials and energy-saving media terminals,” it added.
The company’s Hong Kong-listed stock price fell more than 6 percent on Tuesday.
It was not clear if the company has operations in Taiwan.
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.
President Tsai Ing-wen, who’s seeking re-election in January, urged citizens in August to stay on alert for Chinese-financed media “infiltration.”
Beijing has been cultivating networks of supporters in Taiwan and ramping up campaigns to lure Taiwanese with lucrative business opportunities ahead of the key elections.
By Ben Blanchard and Yimou Lee
