Mr Kao is the highest-ranking veteran of Taiwan’s armed forces to have been accused of spying for China, but he is not the first. In January another group of veterans was indicted for allegedly sending photos and maps of America’s de facto embassy in Taipei and of Taiwanese military bases to Chinese agents.

The tension between China and Taiwan is at its highest. In China's eyes, Taiwan is a breakaway province that they need to reconquer. However, Taiwan sees itself as its own independent state from China.