FOREIGN AGENTS: Industrial espionage has led to losses of NT$170 billion since 2013 and 90 percent of the cases originated from China, DPP Legislator Chao Tien-lin said

Taipei Times
Date: Aug 05, 2019
By: Hsieh Chun-lin  /  Staff reporter

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers yesterday proposed amendments to the Trade Secrets Act (營業秘密法) to increase fines and allow for sentences of life in jail for people convicted of industrial espionage as the number of cases climbs.

DPP Legislator Chao Tien-lin (趙天麟) said that industrial espionage has cost the nation’s economy NT$170 billion (US$5.42 billion) since the act’s promulgation in 2013.

“Huge economic losses have resulted from these crimes. We need to protect the development of Taiwan’s industries and safeguard the stability of our economy,” Chao said.

The losses stem from 89 cases handled by the Ministry of Justice’s Investigation Bureau from 2013 to the end of last year, for an average of nearly NT$2 billion per case, he said.    [FULL  STORY]