Taiwan Charges CTi News Anchor With Taking Crypto From Chinese Agent for Propaganda and Military Espionage

Taiwan prosecutors have indicted CTi News anchor Lin Chen-you for allegedly accepting cryptocurrency from a Chinese agent to produce propaganda and bribe military personnel into leaking classified information. The Ciaotou District Prosecutors Office said payments flowed through Binance and OKX accounts as part of what it described as a broader operation to compromise national security.

Prosecutors Claim Lin Aired Propaganda Directed by a Chinese National

The indictment names Lin Chen-you, 28, a journalist at CTi News, a major Taiwanese cable news network. Prosecutors said Lin worked under the direction of a Chinese national surnamed Huang, who allegedly provided story ideas and approved scripts for content produced for CTi News and its YouTube channel.

According to the prosecution, the directed content targeted the ruling Democratic Progressive Party’s recall campaign. Lin allegedly received at least 4,325 USDT last year from Huang in connection with the media operation.

“Lin, as a well-known journalist, had a responsibility to hold the government to account and safeguard the public’s right to information in his reporting, but instead served a hostile foreign power for many years for personal gain,” prosecutors said at a Wednesday press conference, according to the Taipei Times.

Payments Moved Through Binance and OKX to Bypass Taiwanese Banks

The indictment describes two separate payment streams. Lin allegedly received at least 4,325 USDT last year from Huang for the directed media work. Separately, prosecutors said Lin received NT$169,493 (approximately $5,395) through Binance and OKX accounts as compensation for the military bribery operation, according to Taiwan’s Central News Agency.

Both payment channels used stablecoins and offshore exchange accounts to bypass Taiwan’s domestic banking system. Prosecutors included violations of the Money Laundering Control Act among the charges.

Prosecutors Allege Lin Bribed Six Military Personnel Since 2023

The indictment also alleges that Lin helped bribe six active or retired Army and Navy personnel into leaking military secrets starting in 2023. Prosecutors said Lin transferred money to the soldiers in exchange for photographs of classified documents, then received crypto payments from the Chinese agent as compensation.

All six military officials were also indicted. Prosecutors are seeking up to 12 years in prison for Lin on charges including violations of the Anti-Infiltration Act, the Money Laundering Control Act, and the Anti-Corruption Act.