By Taijing Wu

Taipei, Dec 6 (EFE).- Startling allegations by a self-confessed Chinese spy, who fled to Australia to spill the beans, has stirred Taiwan's presidential election campaign after his claims that Beijing was directly interfering in the island nation's politics.

Wang Liqiang, 26, claimed he was assigned to meddle in the election as China's intelligence agencies were trying to disrupt democracy, not only in Taiwan but also in Hong Kong, an allegation dismissed by China's Taiwan Affairs Office as "nonsense."

In a TV interview in Australia aired on Nov. 23, Wang claimed that he worked for China Innovation Investment Limited (CIIL), which acted on behalf of Chinese intelligence.

He said he took orders from Xiang Xin, the CIIL CEO, and was asked to influence the campaign of the anti-China Democratic Progressive Party and Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen to sabotage her reelection.

He also claimed to have financed pro-China candidate Han Kuo-yu's campaign, Tsai's main rival.

CIIL is allegedly involved in the investment in dual usage of military and civil sectors, and its bank accounts served to transfer funds to people and organizations working for Xiang, according to media reports.

Wang's allegations sent shock waves through the island's political class and especially influenced Han, who has categorically denied he received money from any pro-China outfit.

Xiang and his wife Gong Qing, the two executives of the investment firm, were detained on Nov. 24 at Taoyuan Airport when they were allegedly trying to leave Taiwan.

An investigator, who spoke anonymously, told EFE that the authorities had been following the two executives since they first arrived in Taiwan.

"We have been following and photographing them. We know who they met and where. We also have records of their cash flow. This is just routine surveillance and basic intelligence gathering on anyone with a possible threat to national security," said the investigator.

However, he said Wang was not likely an agent significant enough for Australia to take his claims seriously.

"The so-called information he talked about is mostly reported in Taiwanese media, including financing China's preferred campaigns to topple Tsai's reelection," he said.

"For a person to become a potential spy, one must have access to secret information within the military or the government. Wang does not seem to have those. And the real questions are why does Wang only name Xiang and his wife as if there were no other Chinese spies in Taiwan," he said.

Taiwan's Ministry of Justice's Investigation Bureau has sent its representatives to Australia to investigate Wang's claims.

Parris Chang, the president of the Taiwan Institute for Political, Economic and Strategic Studies (TIPESS), said Wang's claims have helped Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan and the United States to understand the gravity of the threat China poses in intervening in domestic political matters.

"Australia's government already knows about China's intentions in manipulating local politics," he said, referring to allegations that China had financially sponsored some Australian lawmakers.

"It (China) encourages its immigrated fellows to take part in elections. All these facts along with this defection will make people in Australia even more alert to China," Chang said.

Kou Chien-wen, Director of National Chengchi University's Institute of International Relations, said that Wang's defection to Australia was a pure coincidence that benefited anti-Chinese sentiment and fears in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Australia.

"Australia is currently not getting along with China. And the potential effects of Wang's claims are in line with the (Democratic Progressive Party) DPP's campaign axis," Kou told EFE.

"It is very hard to say who benefits from Wang's defection, but his claims are certainly going to increase the likes and dislikes of voters here," he said. EFE

© 2019 EFE News Services (U.S.) Inc., source EFE Ingles