Taiwan citizen charged with spying in China after reporting PLA troop movements on Hong Kong border

November 30, 2019November 30, 2019 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment China, Hong Kong

A Taiwanese man who went missing after crossing the border from Hong Kong into Shenzhen City in August has been formally charged for spying and endangering the national security of China, according to reports today, November 30. Morrison Lee (Lee Meng-chu, 李孟居), 44, crossed the border to Shenzhen City, August 20, after visiting Hong Kong. At the time, mass protests against the Extradition Law Amendment Bill were in progress in Hong Kong. Lee had expressed support for the pro-democracy movement

revolving shotgun, pistol and ammunition

Crime and Criminals

November 29, 2019November 29, 2019 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment firearms, guns, organized crime, revolving shotgun

Police arrested a man in Taichung City yesterday found to be in possession of a Beretta pistol loaded with dumdum bullets, and a revolving shotgun, in the latest of a series of raids that has seen 56 firearms confiscated, and dozens of people arrested. Police officers from Taoyuan City’s Pingzhen Branch had long been attempting to track a 50-year-old man named Zheng, who was suspected of being part of a gun trading syndicate. Zheng was of no fixed abode and

security monitor footage showing guards and customers restraining disarmed robber

Crime and Criminals

November 28, 2019November 28, 2019 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment armed-robbery, convenience store, firearms, Taoyuan City

An attempted armed robbery of an ATM cash box at a convenience store was foiled by security guards, and customers who came to their assistance, in Taoyuan City yesterday, November 27. A 38-year-old suspect, Liao Ming-zong, had been planning the robbery for the past two weeks, and had stolen a motorcycle, and purchased a modified pistol for the purpose. Liao and an accomplice named Huang arrived at the store on Wenhua Road in Guishan District at around 2:00pm, but Huang

venomous formosan pit viper caught in Keelung City after biting firefighter

Animals

November 28, 2019November 28, 2019 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment firefighters, Keelung City, snake and bee duties, snake-bite

A firefighter was treated with antivenom, and kept under observation, after after being bitten by a venomous brown-spotted pit viper while on snake-catching duties in a mountainous area of Keelung City today, November 27. The Keelung City Fire Department received an emergency 119 call from the owner of a guesthouse at around 12:30pm, reporting a snake was spotted in a bathroom. Two firefighters, officers Lu and Zeng, were dispatched from the Zhongzheng District Fire Station to take care of the

Gong Qing hides her face in Taipei City after being exit-restricted on suspicion of violating National Security law

Politics

November 26, 2019November 26, 2019 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Chinese espionage, election, spy scandal, Wang Liqiang

The director of a Hong Kong-listed company who was named as an alleged high-level Chinese intelligence operative in an explosive media expose in Australia a few days ago was stopped at Taoyuan International Airport Sunday night, and has been restricted from leaving the country after being interviewed by prosecutors. Xiang Xin (向心) and his wife Gong Qing (龔青) were named by Wang Liqiang as the heads of a front company working for the Chinese intelligence service, during a media interview

view from elevated freeway where driver fell to his death after being thrown out of car

Traffic Accidents

November 24, 2019November 24, 2019 Phillip Charlier 1 Comment freeway accident, National Freeway, New Taipei City, tesla

A man driving a Tesla fell to his death from an elevated section of Freeway one in Xizhi District, New Taipei City, after crashing into the center divider between the freeway and an off-ramp this afternoon, November 24. Two passengers in the car survived the crash, and were conscious but injured when firefighters pulled them out of the mangled wreck. The two survivors were sent to Neihu Tri-Services General Hospital for emergency treatment. The driver, a 23-year-old man named Hua

Traffic Accidents

November 24, 2019November 24, 2019 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment level-crossing-accident, Taichung City, Taiwan Railway Administration, TRA

Taiwan Railway Administration (TRA) issued a press release this morning, November 24, in which it apologized for an accident that occurred on a level crossing in Taichung City on Friday night, citing faulty equipment as a causal factor. At 9:35pm, November 22, a woman named Lin, 45, was driving her silver sedan across a level crossing between Xinwuri and Cheng-gong stations when a limited-express train slammed into the vehicle. While the car was almost completely destroyed, Ms Lin suffered no

Politics

November 23, 2019June 7, 2020 Phillip Charlier 2 Comments Han Guo-yu, Taiwan democracy, Taiwan Presidential Elections, Wang Liqiang

Opposition presidential candidate Han Kuo-yu appeared to be on the back foot today, when he struck out at allegations that Chinese Communist Party-backed operatives had invested RMB1.5 billion (NT$6 billion) to push Taiwanese media to promote his campaign to unseat the Democratic Progressive party in last year’s nationwide local elections. “If I took one cent from the Chinese Communist Party, I will resign from the Presidential race,” Han Guo-yu said, gesticulating in an angry manner. Han was responding to allegations

Politics

November 23, 2019November 23, 2019 Phillip Charlier 1 Comment Chinese espionage, elections, Taiwan President

A Chinese operative was so successful in influencing Taiwan’s municipal elections in favor of candidates including Han Kuo-yu in 2018, he was given the task of interfering with the upcoming presidential elections with the aim of unseating President Tsai Ing-wen, the man told Australian media. Wang Liqian decided instead to risk his life by defecting to Australia, The Age newspaper reported today, November 23. Wang has offered “a trove of unprecedented inside intelligence” on how the Chinese government conducts political

Society

November 22, 2019November 23, 2019 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Hualien County, illegal immigration, visa overstay

An elderly man will be assisted back to Japan after Hualien County police found that he had overstayed his tourist visa by 36 years. Mr Hori, 82, arrived in Taiwan on a tourist visa in 1983, according to National Immigration Agency records. Mr Hori told police that after his arrival, he had become involved in a mining venture in Hualian County’s Yuli Township. Hori worked as an engineer maintaining drilling machinery and explosives. However, when the venture failed, Hori had

Taiwan citizen charged with spying in China after reporting PLA troop movements on Hong Kong border

Spate of gun busts in pre-election crime sweep sees more than 50 firearms confiscated

Armed robbery foiled after pistol jams, security guards and customers disarm robber

Firefighter hospitalized after being bitten by venomous pit viper

Couple at center of China spy-ring allegations found in Taiwan and exit-restricted

Driver falls to his death from elevated road after crashing Tesla

Woman survives level crossing accident with minor injuries: TRA admits equipment fault

Chilling details of Chinese interference in Taiwan’s democratic elections emerge: KMT presidential candidate strikes out in defense

Faced with the task of interfering in Taiwan’s upcoming presidential election, China spy seeks political asylum in Australia

Elderly Japanese man found to have overstayed his tourist visa for 36 years