Chinese watches in the military camps of Taiwan have raised concern of possible infiltration by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Since 2019, the Taichung City in central Taiwan has been procuring 10,000+ electronic watches annually as gifts for conscripts entering military service, sparking allegations of being Chinese goods. A military expert warned that conscripts bringing Chinese watches into military camps could be Beijing’s test for infiltration channels, and this issue should not be dismissed as an isolated case.
The recent revelation that the Taichung City Government has distributed electronic watches suspected to be of Chinese origin to soon-to-be conscripts has raised concerns.
Last year, the Civil Affairs Bureau of Taichung announced that it would distribute camouflage electronic watches as gifts of appreciation to more than 8,000 active duty military personnel registered in Taichung City from Sept. 15, 2023, to Dec. 31, 2023.
The retired Major General Yu Tsung-chi, an adviser to the Formosa Republican Association, indicated that enlistment into the military is a sensitive matter, as these individuals will eventually be deployed to various units within the Ministry of National Defense (MOND), some of which may entail access to classified information.
The MOND strictly prohibits the use of any electronic products manufactured in China by military personnel, according to Gen. Yu. “This prohibition is well-founded, given the considerable doubts surrounding the security of electronic products made in China,” he said.
Gen. Yu, speaking to the Chinese language edition of The Epoch Times, proposed that investigative and counterintelligence units should thoroughly examine the production process and internal structure of these watches.
The goal is to “ascertain whether they harbor any backdoor programs capable of divulging sensitive information to Beijing,” especially considering the widespread infiltration efforts of the CCP into Taiwan’s military. He said he believes the issue demands “serious attention.”
While electronic watches may not possess features like cameras or internet connectivity typically found in smartwatches, Gen. Yu stressed that technological advancements are constantly ongoing. “There could be concealed memory and location tracking functions within these watches. If obtained by the regime, personal habits, basic information, and frequented locations could be utilized for targeted infiltration and united front efforts,” he said.
He took a recent espionage case on the self-ruling island involving the diabolo instructor Lu Chi-hsien as an example. He said that information regarding individual military personnel’s borrowing habits or preferred locations can be immensely valuable. Diabolo is a Chinese-style game similar to yo-yo.
If infiltration is successful, there’s a risk of further investment by the CCP, according to Gen. Yu.
“We can’t assume it’s just an electronic watch, nothing special,” Gen. Yu stated. He expressed that intelligence operations are comprehensive, and this could be a test for adversaries to find a niche into the Taiwanese military.
He said that it could be exploited as a loophole or infiltration route. Consequently, there could be increased investment and more proactive measures taken. While this incident may seem trivial, future iterations could have enhanced capabilities, potentially allowing for remote-controlled explosions, impacting security.
Gen. Yu called for strict scrutiny by investigative and judicial units, emphasizing that this issue should not be treated as a routine outsourcing bid or administrative procedure. “It’s preferable to raise the bar now to prevent future risks and address potential infiltration channels meticulously,” he said.
He emphasized that MOND prohibits Chinese-made subsidiary products from entering military zones, and said the gift of watches in itself raises a question: Why not opt for products made in Taiwan under such regulations?
“Negligence is the most severe mindset leading to leaks,” Gen. Yu asserted, stating that administrative lapses, inexperienced personnel, or shifting responsibility to subcontractors cannot be casually dismissed as excuses.
“Many irreversible leaks of vital intelligence stem from such a chain of oversights and lack of awareness. Every potential infiltration avenue must be approached with utmost seriousness, and the negligent attitude must be rectified,” he said.
Gen. Yu cautioned, “The Taichung City case is just the tip of the iceberg.” The MOND should comprehensively investigate these individual incidents and ensure the complete prevention of CCP infiltration through computer and electronic products.
