China says it will take countermeasures to new Taiwan intelligence gathering site
BEIJING, June 17 (Reuters) – China said on Wednesday it would take countermeasures in response to a new website by the Taiwanese government for Chinese citizens to report intelligence tips, saying the site revealed Taipei’s “conflict mentality”.
Taiwan and China, which consider the democratically governed island as their own territory, have long been spying on each other, and Taiwan in particular has reported an increasing number of cases of Chinese espionage.
Taiwan’s National Security Bureau unveiled its new website on Sunday, saying it offers a safe channel to a growing number of people fed up with China’s system and seeking change.
Speaking at a regular news conference in Beijing, China Taiwan Affairs Office spokesman Chen Binhua said Taiwan had “engaged in intelligence theft, infiltration and sabotage, escalating cross-strait conflict and undermining cross-strait relations.”
“This fully reveals their pro-Taiwan independence stance, stubbornness, confrontational mentality and refusal to change course,” he said.
“We strongly condemn this and will resolutely take countermeasures,” Chen added, without providing details.
He said Chinese citizens, organizations, companies and other groups all have the responsibility and obligation to maintain security.
“Relevant departments will take legal responsibility in accordance with the law for those who provide criminal intelligence to Taiwan intelligence agencies.”
Taiwan said its new intelligence-gathering program follows the lead of institutions in countries such as the United States, Britain and Israel.
Website blocked in China, but many Chinese use it VPNs To access other blocked sites such as Western social media and search engines.
China itself has tried similar tactics. In 2024, China announced an email address where people could report reports of crimes committed by Taiwan “separatists.”
Taiwan’s government rejects Beijing’s claims to sovereignty and says only the island’s people can decide their own future.
(Reporting by Beijing newsroom; Writing by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Kate Mayberry)
