Prosecutors in Taiwan searched the apartment of a well-known CTiTV reporter, Lin Chen-yu, also called “Ma De,” because of suspicion that he has been involved in spying for the Chinese Communist Party. After questioning him, the prosecutors sought a judge’s permission to detain Lin, which was granted.
He had allegedly been receiving funds from China. Details like the exact source and intended use of the funds “await further clarification from prosecutors…. The public is asked for their understanding” while the investigation is being conducted (Voco News, January 17, 2026).
It seems that some details had been unearthed by the time of the Voco News report, though.
According to a report by Mirror Weekly on the same day, prosecutors have uncovered a video in which a Marine Corps sergeant surnamed Chen allegedly accepted NT$20 to film himself surrendering while holding the Chinese national flag and acknowledging [asserting] that Taiwan belongs to China and pledging allegiance to China.
According to the investigation, Sergeant Chen, who had been serving in the military since the end of 2017, met a Chinese person nicknamed “Jixiang” online in January of last year due to financial difficulties. He filmed videos at the other person’s instruction and received payment. The investigation also found that other military personnel from Zuoying Military Region received NT$10,000 for providing information about the Han Kuang Exercise and drones through messaging apps. The task force is expanding its investigation, and whether other accomplices are involved remains to be clarified.
What’s Sergeant Chen and the rest of it got to do with reporter Lin Chen-yu? Voco News didn’t spell it out.
It did, though, pass along the scoop that Lin Chen-yu has long been a thorn in the side of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party “for his biased reporting stance and tone, which is clearly unfriendly to the party. He has also had several verbal altercations with DPP officials in the Legislative Yuan.” Though suggestive, such antipathy cannot alone warrant suspicion of collaborating with the Chinese Communist Party in a way that violates the Republic of China’s National Security Law.
The mystery didn’t last long. Taiwan News and others soon reported the more explicit accusation that reporter Lin had funneled CCP money to Chen to pay him for his betrayal. Lin is also thought to have “contacted other active-duty and retired servicemen to solicit classified intelligence for delivery to Chinese contacts. Prosecutors alleged the funding originated in China.”
Taiwan News later reported that Lin is “suspected of using his personal accounts to funnel more than NT$1 million (US$31,600) in alleged bribes, per FTV [a Chinese-language source]” (January 20, 2026).
Prosecutors believe the large volume of cryptocurrency in his possession may be linked to Chinese Communist Party infiltration funds, with some used as payment for leaked information and some as personal compensation. Investigators said most of the chat records on Lin’s cellphone remain intact and are reviewing his financial transactions and WeChat communications….
CTiTV said Saturday that it had no prior knowledge of the case. The broadcaster denied rumors that authorities had searched company premises and urged the public not to spread unverified information
Lin employer CTiTV also urged “a fair trial and justice for all” and tossed in a “God bless Taiwan” for good measure.
Want Want
In the name of providing as much relevant verified information as possible, CTiTV might have topped off its pleas with a link to an April 2019 Nikkei Asia story on how CTiTV had been getting funds from…China (i.e., the CCP). According to Nikkei’s report, “Chinese subsidies for Foxconn and Want Want spark outcry in Taiwan.”
Want Want China Times group is the owner of Chung T’en TV (CTiTV).
Both Foxconn and Want Want—the latter of which “sells crackers and soft drinks in China in addition to its ownership of Taiwan’s China Times, Commercial Times, CtiTV News, and China Television”—defended their acceptance of CCP funds. (Well, they want-wanted the money.)
The revelation of the funding “will intensify suspicion over China’s links to many of the island’s most influential business empires,” Nikkei reported or predicted back then.
Nikkei also reported that the ROC government “said it would look into whether China’s funding could be used to influence local politics.”
It could. Also to influence local media and local espionage.
