Chinese Spy Journalist Indicted for Intelligence Gathering on Pro-Taiwan Politicians, a First in Czech Republic

(Central News Agency, Prague, 3rd) Yang Yiming, a Prague-based correspondent for the Chinese Communist Party newspaper Guangming Daily, will stand trial after four months in detention. Yang was found to be working for Chinese intelligence agencies, long collecting compromising information on Czech politicians friendly to Taiwan. Prosecutors have indicted him under the crime of 'unauthorized activity for a foreign power.' This is the first time someone has been indicted on this charge in the Czech Republic. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

According to a report by Czech Radio (iROZHLAS.cz) on the 2nd, Prague City Court spokesperson Kateřina Eliášová stated that the court will hear the case.

Eliášová said, 'I can confirm that our court has received the indictment against the defendant. According to the indictment, the defendant is suspected of committing the crime of unauthorized activity for a foreign power. As the case is still in the trial phase, we cannot provide more information.'

The report indicates that the case was supervised and investigated by the Prague High Prosecutor's Office and was formally indicted on May 15. Normally, such cases are heard by a district court, but due to national security concerns, it has been transferred to the higher-level city court. A formal trial date has not yet been set.

Yang Yiming, a correspondent for the Chinese Communist Party newspaper Guangming Daily in Prague, was found to be actually affiliated with Chinese intelligence, monitoring and gathering intelligence on specific individuals in the political and academic spheres in Prague. For example, he attempted to collect compromising information on pro-Taiwan politicians such as Czech Senate President Miloš Vystrčil and former Chamber of Deputies President Markéta Pekarová Adamová.

Yang had been active in the Czech Republic for many years, interviewing several Czech and Slovak politicians. The Czech government repeatedly extended his press accreditation and residence permit.

Czech police arrested Yang in January this year, and the Prague 8 District Court subsequently ordered his detention on January 19, citing concerns that he might continue his criminal activities or flee.

Prague 8 District Court spokesperson Jana Humeni said in March, 'Our ruling has been confirmed. The defendant's appeal against the detention order has been rejected by the Prague City Court.'

The report states that while the Chinese intelligence operative objected to his detention, he did not appeal the criminal indictment itself. Martin Bílý, head of the Serious Economic and Financial Crime Department of the Prague High Prosecutor's Office, confirmed, 'The defendant did not object to the prosecution's indictment process within the prescribed period.'

The crime of 'unauthorized activity for a foreign power,' along with espionage and endangering classified information, falls under the chapter 'Crimes against the Republic, Foreign States, and International Organizations' in the Czech Criminal Code, carrying a maximum sentence of five years.

The defendant was indicted under Section 318a of the Czech Criminal Code. This provision came into effect in February of last year and primarily targets individuals who collect sensitive information for foreign powers, particularly in cases linked to Russian or Chinese intelligence activities. (Editor: Zhang Zhixuan) 1150603