DATE=5/29/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-232984
TITLE=CHINA / TAIWAN SPYING (L ONLY)
BYLINE=ROGER WILKISON
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:  

INTRO:  TAIWAN IS DENYING THAT FOUR TAIWANESE BUSINESSMEN 
ARRESTED BY CHINESE AUTHORITIES FOR ESPIONAGE ARE LINKED TO 
TAIPEI'S INTELLIGENCE BUREAU.  V-O-A'S ROGER WILKISON REPORTS 
BEIJING SAYS TAIWANESE INTELLIGENCE SENT THE MEN TO CHINA TO 
COLLECT POLITICAL, ECONOMIC AND MILITARY INFORMATION.

TEXT:  CHINESE CENTRAL TELEVISION SHOWED THE FOUR TAIWANESE 
SITTING GRIMLY AS THEY ANSWERED QUESTIONS FROM PROSECUTORS.  IT 
SAID THE MEN CONFESSED TO BEING INTELLIGENCE AGENTS.  THE REPORT 
SAID THAT THE MAN CONSIDERED THE RINGLEADER -- KOU CHIEN-MING -- 
WAS ARRESTED IN BEIJING LAST MARCH, BUT IT GAVE NO DETAILS ON 
WHERE OR WHEN THE OTHER ARRESTS OCCURRED. THE TELEVISION NETWORK 
SAID THE FOOTAGE OF THE MEN BEING INTERROGATED WAS SHOT LAST 
MONTH.

EARLIER THIS WEEK, TAIWAN ASKED CHINA FOR DETAILS ABOUT SEVERAL 
TAIWANESE BUSINESSMEN REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN DETAINED ON SUSPICION
OF SPYING.  BUT CHINESE OFFICIALS DECLINED TO COMMENT ON THE CASE
UNTIL THURSDAY, WHEN THE SEMI-OFFICIAL ASSOCIATION FOR RELATIONS 
ACROSS THE TAIWAN STRAIT INFORMED ITS TAIWANESE COUNTERPART --THE
STRAITS EXCHANGE FOUNDATION-- OF THE ARRESTS.

THE FOUR ARRESTED BUSINESSMEN ARE MEMBERS OF A PRIVATE 
ASSOCIATION FOUNDED BY MR. KOU IN 1991, TO CONDUCT CIVIL 
EXCHANGES BETWEEN TAIWAN AND CHINA. CHINA'S OFFICIAL XINHUA NEWS 
AGENCY SAYS THE SO-CALLED CHINESE CROSS-STRAITS NON-GOVERNMENTAL 
EXCHANGE ASSOCIATION HAS BEEN USED AS A COVER TO RECRUIT SPIES 
AND SEND THEM TO THE MAINLAND.  BUT TAIWAN SAYS THERE ARE NO 
LINKS BETWEEN THE GROUP AND ITS INTELLIGENCE BUREAU.  IT SAYS 
MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION ARE BUSINESSMEN WITH INVESTMENTS IN 
CHINA.

CHINA SAYS MR. KOU AND HIS COHORTS ADMITTED TRAVELING TO THE 
MAINLAND ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS TO GATHER 
INTELLIGENCE.  IT  SAYS THAT A MANUAL ON INTELLIGENCE-GATHERING 
WAS FOUND IN MR. KOU'S POSSESSION.

TAIWANESE NEWS MEDIA SAY MR. KOU'S ASSOCIATION HAS CLOSE LINKS 
WITH AN ARM  OF THE ISLAND'S RULING NATIONALIST PARTY, THAT IS 
INVOLVED IN GATHERING INFORMATION ABOUT CHINA.  BUT THE TAIWANESE
GOVERNMENT SAYS BEIJING ACCUSES TAIPEI OF ESPIONAGE EVERY YEAR, 
JUST AHEAD OF THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE 1989 MASSACRE OF 
PRO-DEMOCRACY DEMONSTRATORS AS A WAY OF WARNING CHINESE 
DISSIDENTS. (SIGNED)

NEB/RW/FC/KL

29-May-98 7:13 AM EDT (1113 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.