Guo Shuyao's Younger Brother Among Those Involved
Multiple Espionage Cases Involving Military Personnel Unfold in Taiwan
It has been confirmed that among those indicted for attempting to hand over critical Taiwanese military information to China, the younger brother of a famous celebrity was also involved, which has caused shock. As cross-strait relations (between the Republic of China and the People's Republic of China) have recently deteriorated, it is reported that the number of Chinese spies conducting operations within Taiwan has also increased.
According to a summary of reports from local Taiwanese media, including the Central News Agency, on June 30 (local time), the Taipei District Court sentenced former 'Diabolo' coach Lu Jixian to 10 years and 6 months in prison for violating the National Security Law.
Famous Taiwanese actor Guo Shuyao (left) and his younger brother Guo, who was sentenced to prison for violating the National Security Law. Instagram, Yipin News Network screenshot
Diabolo is a traditional Chinese game in which a yo-yo-like toy is spun and manipulated with sticks. Lu once served as an executive director of the Taiwan Diabolo Federation. In 2020, he visited China for a performance and was recruited by intelligence agents. He reportedly received 5.7 million New Taiwan dollars (approximately 260 million Korean won) in exchange for passing Taiwanese military information to China.
Lu obtained a house in Taipei to use as a base and planned to gather active and retired Taiwanese military personnel to collect information and transfer it to China. The Taiwanese soldiers recruited by Lu were mainly lower-ranking officers or enlisted personnel. However, the plan was uncovered during its execution and ultimately failed.
It was revealed that among the soldiers recruited by Lu was the younger brother of Guo Shuyao, a well-known Taiwanese actor and singer, which shocked local citizens. Guo was sentenced to 3 years and 10 months in prison in the recent trial. Guo Shuyao, who has 1.14 million followers on Instagram, is a popular star in Taiwan and is active in various dramas, variety shows, and commercials.
Guo Shuyao responded at a press conference held after reports emerged about her brother's involvement in espionage activities, saying, "I learned the truth after seeing the news," and added, "My brother experienced something strange while looking for a job. I will leave everything to the authorities."
Meanwhile, as tensions between China and Taiwan continue to escalate, there has been a recent increase in incidents where military personnel in Taiwan are caught engaging in espionage activities. At the end of 2023, a Taiwanese army officer who pledged to surrender in the event of war after receiving funds from China was sentenced to 7 years and 6 months in prison. In another recent case, a group of retired Taiwanese soldiers who secretly organized a unit to support a potential Chinese military invasion of Taiwan was caught and sentenced to up to 10 years in prison.
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