Taiwan's "China Times" on Monday quoted a "reliable source" as saying that since the beginning of this year, the US military has stationed personnel in Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense's Military Intelligence Bureau (MIB).
"This is the first time the MIB has had US military personnel stationed within. Internal staff were very surprised to see unfamiliar foreign faces walking around the bureau." The report speculates that these "foreigners" are from the US military, and possibly members of the so-called "Meiyuan Program."
The report adds that during the Biden administration, CIA Director Burns once revealed that more than a decade ago, an intelligence network that the US had recruited in mainland China suffered a devastating counter-intelligence blow, and that "the United States is working hard to rebuild."
Previously, Hong Kong was once an important base for the CIA to collect intelligence on mainland China, but following the implementation of Hong Kong’s National Security Law, CIA activities in Hong Kong were essentially crippled. "After that, the US shifted to cooperating with Taiwan for intelligence sharing."
The report also states that the focus of Taiwan-US intelligence cooperation includes intelligence gathering and electronic reconnaissance, with Taiwan's "MIB" mainly responsible for keeping tabs on mainland China's political and military developments. In recent years, the frequency of exchanges between the MIB and the US side has increased significantly. In addition to the CIA, agencies such as the US National Security Agency (NSA) have also been involved. Former MIB director Yang Jing-se had a record of going to the US three times in one year during his term.
China Times further disclosed that the US NSA has long maintained a listening post in Taiwan under the codename "Meiyuan," working together with the MIB to monitor mainland China. Originally, the NSA had listening posts in Kenting, Linkou, and Yangmingshan. After the US and Taiwan "broke off diplomatic relations" in 1979, the Linkou and Kenting stations were handed over to the Ministry of National Defense's Telecommunications Development Office, with only the Yangmingshan station retained and still codenamed "Meiyuan." "Meiyuan" is "Taiwan's most secretive military unit" and is outwardly known as the "MIB Communications Office’s camp," not under the jurisdiction of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT). It is responsible for intercepting electronic signals from central and southeastern coastal regions of mainland China as well as the South China Sea.
In addition to the MIB, Taiwan’s "Ministry of National Defense Telecommunications Development Office," "Information, Communications and Electronic Command of the Ministry of National Defense," and the "National Security Bureau" and other related agencies also cooperate with "Meiyuan," collectively known as the "Rihui Program." In addition to eavesdropping on mainland China, they also assist the US in monitoring specific matters.
The report says that the United States attaches particular importance to telecommunications intelligence on China's submarines, nuclear weapons, and space technology. As soon as a submarine leaves port, NSA's overseas intercept stations, including Taiwan, will actively search for it, with "Meiyuan" playing a key role. In addition, Taiwan’s Air Force’s long-range early warning radar station in Leshan, Hsinchu, is also an important intelligence cooperation point between Taiwan and the US.
Analysts state that Taiwan-US intelligence cooperation seriously undermines international law and the US-China Joint Communiqués, which have international legal implications.