Taipei confirmed it had arrested two leaders of China Innovation Investment Limited, suspected of spying for Beijing.

Xiang Xin, executive director of China Innovation Investment Limited (CIIL), an investment company listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange, and wife Gong Qing, who is also on the company's board, are under investigation for allegations. election interference, the Taiwan authorities today said.

Xiang and Gong were stopped at Taoyuan airport on November 24, while trying to leave Taiwan. The two men are thought to be under arrest and interrogation at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Taipei.

The head of Taiwan's internal affairs agency Hsu Kuo-yung yesterday confirmed that Xiang and Gong were arrested, but declined to comment further because the incident was still under investigation.

Chen Yu-ping, a spokesman for the Taipei Prosecutor's Office, added that Xiang and Gong were brought to this office last night to further investigate suspicion of "developing an organization" for outside forces. , including the Beijing government, with a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison.

"The two suspects are very cooperative. We are considering their intention to come to Taiwan," Chen said, adding that the couple frequently visit Taiwan and are currently banned from leaving the island.

The arrests came after Wang "William" Liqiang, who claimed to be a Chinese spy and defected to Australia, revealed to Nine news agency that CIIL helped conceal espionage activities. Wang claimed that he was deployed to Taiwan operating under cover at CIIL to try to intervene in the island leadership election next year. The person claiming to be the agent said Xiang was his commander.

CIIL confirmed that their two top executives were blocked in Taiwan, but confirmed the two had never engaged in espionage activities. Meanwhile, mainland Chinese authorities say Wang is a crook being wanted by Shanghai police.