DATE=8/12/98 
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT 
NUMBER=2-236943
TITLE=CHINA/TAIWAN SPIES (S ONLY)
BYLINE=ROGER WILKISON
DATELINE=BEIJING 
CONTENT= 
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  A BEIJING COURT HAS SENTENCED A TAIWANESE BUSINESSMAN TO 
FOUR-YEARS IN PRISON FOR ESPIONAGE, BUT IT HAS EXEMPTED HIS THREE
FELLOW DEFENDANTS FROM PUNISHMENT.  CORRESPONDENT ROGER WILKISON 
REPORTS TAIWAN HAS EXPRESSED DISSATISFACTION WITH THE VERDICT, 
BUT SAYS IT RESPECTS BEIJING'S JURISDICTION IN THE CASE.

TEXT:  KOU CHIEN-MING WAS ACCUSED OF WORKING FOR TAIWAN'S  
MILITARY INTELLIGENCE.  PROSECUTORS SAID HE AND HIS THREE 
COLLEAGUES ILLEGALLY ENTERED CHINA SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE PAST 
FIVE-YEARS AND ENGAGED IN POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, AND MILITARY 
ESPIONAGE UNTIL THEY WERE ARRESTED LAST MARCH.

THE OTHER THREE MEN, WHO -- ALONG WITH THE 42-YEAR-OLD KOU -- 
WERE CONNECTED TO AN ORGANIZATION PURPORTEDLY ENGAGED IN CIVIL 
EXCHANGES BETWEEN TAIWAN AND CHINA, WERE ALSO CONVICTED.  BUT THE
THREE WERE EXEMPTED FROM PUNISHMENT FOR WHAT BEIJING'S OFFICIAL 
"XINHUA" NEWS AGENCY DESCRIBES AS -- MERITORIOUS SERVICES TO 
ATONE FOR THEIR CRIMES.  XINHUA DID NOT ELABORATE.  THE THREE ARE
BEING EXPELLED FROM CHINA.

TAIWAN HAS ALWAYS DENIED THE FOUR MEN ENGAGED IN ESPIONAGE OR 
WERE LINKED TO ITS MILITARY INTELLIGENCE AGENCY.  WEDNESDAY, THE 
ISLAND'S SEMI-OFFICIAL "STRAITS EXCHANGE FOUNDATION" -- WHICH 
HANDLES LINKS WITH CHINA -- SAID, DESPITE NOT BEING ENTIRELY 
SATISFIED WITH THE VERDICT, IT RECOGNIZES BEIJING'S LEGAL 
JURISDICTION.   (SIGNED)

NEB/RAE

12-Aug-98 7:16 AM EDT (1116 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.