Three Key Figures in TSMC Espionage Case Mysteriously Die Within a Year; Chen Youxin: China Decisively Abandons Its Pawns

Chen Zhijian, a former deputy manager at TSMC, was recruited by Hong Kong national Ding Xiaohu to collude with China in establishing a company on the mainland to poach key talent from Taiwan's TSMC and infiltrate its semiconductor industry. In late May 2026, prosecutors brought Chen in for questioning and successfully applied for his detention. However, during the investigation, three core figures in the spy network, including Ding Xiaohu, died one after another within a single year—an extremely unusual coincidence that has sparked intense public speculation about hidden agendas and possible assassinations to silence key individuals.

China funneled 11.12 million yuan to infiltrate Taiwan's military! Secret underground remittances disguised as tourism to collect classified intelligence

According to investigations by prosecutors and police, Ding Xiaohu, a Hong Kong national, acted under instructions from the United Front Work Department of China's Central Military Commission. Since 2023, he has entered Taiwan multiple times under the guise of business or tourism to build an espionage network. He transferred 11.1276 million yuan via underground remittance channels to bribe active and retired Taiwanese military personnel with large sums of money. The network also extended its reach into the tech sector, attempting to recruit key semiconductor talent through Chen Zhijian to penetrate the industry and erode Taiwan's global leadership in semiconductor technology.

Three core operatives die within one year! Chen Youxin: 'China decisively abandoned its pawns'

While the High Prosecutors' Office was investigating Ding's case, key operatives He Shengying and assistant Zhang Zhiwei died in March and September 2025, respectively. The mastermind, Ding Xiaohu, also died in February 2026. The sudden deaths of all three core figures within a short span have fueled widespread conspiracy theories about targeted assassinations. In response, Chen Youxin, a Democratic Progressive Party Taipei City council candidate and lawyer, stated: 'Based on the information I've received, I am almost certain that China decisively abandoned its operatives to prevent higher-ups from being exposed. I wonder if those who believed selling out Taiwan would bring them wealth and safety are now trembling in fear?'