Taiwanese law change targets military personnel with links to mainland China

The amendment, which is ready for cabinet consideration, includes prison sentences for expressing allegiance to Beijing

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Serving members of the Taiwanese armed forces will be scrutinised more closely for connections to the Chinese mainland if a draft legal amendment is approved. Photo: Reuters

Published: 8:00pm, 12 Mar 2025Updated: 8:07pm, 12 Mar 2025

Taiwanese military personnel who hold identity cards issued in mainland China will face more scrutiny and could spend up to seven years in jail if they express allegiance to Beijing, under changes to the island’s legal code.

Defence Minister Wellington Koo Li-hsiung said on Tuesday that the stricter measures were aimed at countering Beijing’s growing influence and espionage activities on the island.

He was speaking the day after the ministry announced that the draft amendment – which includes potential prison sentences for active-duty military personnel found to be disloyal – was ready to be sent to cabinet for its approval.

The new wording stipulates that service members who “express allegiance to the enemy through words, actions, writings, pictures, or digital records” will face prison terms ranging from one to seven years.

Beijing considers Taiwan to be part of its territory and has vowed to reunify with the island, by force if necessary.

While most countries, including the United States, do not recognise Taiwan as an independent state, Washington remains opposed to any forcible seizure of the island and continues to support Taiwan’s self-defence efforts through arms sales.