20100313 Legislator asks PRC to return ailing spies

Legislator asks PRC to return ailing spies

By Shih Hsiu-chuan
STAFF REPORTER
Saturday, Mar 13, 2010, Page 3
　

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Justin Chou, second left, holds up a sign while talking about the poor conditions in Chinese prisons. Chou demanded that Taiwanese secret agents who have been caught and are ailing in Chinese prisons be released, adding that the topic should be discussed in cross-strait negotiations.
PHOTO: FANG PIN-CHAO, TAIPEI TIMES

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Justin Chou (周守訓) yesterday called on the government to urge Beijing to release ailing Taiwanese secret agents held in China, on humanitarian grounds.

In light of the signing of an agreement on crime fighting and judicial cooperation in April last year during the third round of cross-strait talks, Chou said the release of Taiwanese secret agents held by China should be given a higher priority in negotiations

The agreement set out rules for the repatriation of fugitives from both sides and the care of Taiwanese residents detained in connection with alleged spying.

Chou made his statement at a press conference where he was flanked by relatives of detained agents.

Teng Yao-hua (鄧耀華) said he learned from a Chinese security officer when he was in detention that any Taiwanese resident who has served in the military intelligence service is considered an enemy of China.

A retired official with the Ministry of National Defense's Military Intelligence Bureau, Teng said he was arrested while on holiday in China in January last year, eight years after retiring.

“Once you are arrested, [Chinese] security officers won't let you go unless you give them the information they want,” said Teng, who was imprisoned for nine months and not released until the Taiwan Affairs Office of China's State Council intervened in the case.

Another woman, surnamed Yao, whose 60-year old elder sister has been in prison in Beijing for 11 years, appealed to the government to help bring her home as her parents missed her very much.

“My sister never came home after she said she went to China on business. That was 11 years ago. She was initially sentenced to death and then it was commuted to 20 years in prison. We hope she can come home as soon as possible, as the weather is bitter cold in Beijing and she is ill,” Yao said.