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MND to check if alleged spy got information on defense system

ROC Central News Agency

2008-02-12 23:48:30

    Taipei, Feb. 12 (CNA) The Ministry of National Defense (MND) has formed a task force to determine if an alleged Chinese spy arrested in the United States offered Beijing information about a new air defense system that it intends to purchase from Washington, the ministry said Tuesday in a news release.

    The press statement was issued after the U.S. Department of Justice announced Monday that four individuals suspected of spying for China had been arrested. Among them is a Taiwanese-American identified as Kuo Tai-sheng.

    According to a United Evening News report, the leaked classified information was mostly related to a C4ISR system that Taiwan intends to procure to integrate its military command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems.

    The MND statement said the ministry has consistently communicated with the U.S. Department of Defense through arms purchase channels concerning weaponry systems. Noting that the U.S. has imposed internal controls on all related information, the statement said the MND will voice concern as to whether any information about the C4ISR system has been leaked, and will adopt response measures.

    Meanwhile, an Associated Press report said Kuo Tai-sheng, 58, was arrested for allegedly providing Beijing with information obtained from Pentagon weapons systems policy analyst Gregg W. Bergersen, 51.

    The U.S. Justice Department said Monday that Bergersen sold classified defense information to Kuo, whom it identified as a New Orleans furniture salesman. In return, Kuo, a Taiwanese native and naturalized U.S. citizen, forwarded the information to the Chinese government, it said.

    In an affidavit, the department said that Bergersen worked for the Arlington, Virginia-based Defense Security Cooperation Agency, and that he had discussed with Kuo the sophisticated command, control and communications system that Taiwan is purchasing from U.S. defense contractor Lockheed Martin.

    An unidentified MND official was quoted as having told Associated Press that the ministry was trying to ascertain if the information Kuo allegedly supplied was related to the C4ISR system, formally known as Automated Air Defense System. "We understand Kuo was not awarded any contracts connected with the command system, " the official said. "The U.S. Defense Department is handling our weapons purchases, and we are trying to understand it."

    According to a Lockheed Martin company statement, its Automated Air Defense System "will significantly increase operational command and control, as well as ensure system survivability."

(By Sofia Wu)

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