U.S. Espionage Probe Focuses on Ex-Diplomat(neo-con boosting Taiwan)

[papau]

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-diplomat17sep17.story

U.S. Espionage Probe Focuses on Ex-Diplomat
Retired State Dept. official revered by peers is accused of lying to FBI and taking unauthorized trip to Taiwan.
By Paul Richter and Richard B. Schmitt
Times Staff Writers

September 17, 2004

WASHINGTON — For three decades, his peers in the world of U.S. diplomacy have looked on Donald W. Keyser as the consummate professional.

He dazzled them with his knowledge of East Asia and impressed them with his dedication to his craft. One top China hand at the State Department referred to him as "my hero."

So it was with shock that those who know him learned Thursday that Keyser, until recently the department's No. 2 official for East Asian affairs, was under investigation for possible espionage.

In papers filed in federal court in Alexandria, Va., Keyser was accused of lying to the FBI and taking an unauthorized trip to Taiwan last year in violation of federal rules.

The affidavit said Keyser had visited Taiwan in September 2003 without approval of his boss, the assistant secretary of State for East Asia, and detailed how, in meetings in Washington, Keyser allegedly passed documents to Taiwanese intelligence agents.

The United States and Taiwan are on friendly terms, but the U.S. broke off diplomatic relations with the island in 1979 in favor of China, which regards Taiwan as a breakaway province. Taiwan maintains the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Washington.<snip>

[allemand]

1. But Keyser doesn't seem to be a neo-con.

"Keyser's friends describe him as a brilliant analyst and linguist who was not fired by ideological zeal".

As to the motive:

"Sources said the 33-year-old agent was a woman.

<...>

The FBI said that the 33-year-old Taiwanese agent, identified in court papers as "Foreign Person One," acknowledged meeting with Keyser in Taipei between Sept. 3 and Sept. 6 last year.
Federal investigators also determined that Keyser had made several purchases in Taipei during that period with his State Department Credit Union check card, including a $570.01 bill at Christian Dior and $333.19 at the Grand Formosa Regent Taipei hotel.

<...>

Several months later, the FBI began intensively tracking Keyser after he returned to the U.S., observing him and the Taiwanese agent boarding an Amtrak train at Washington's Union Station in May and later spending the day together in New York City."
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-diplomat17sep17.story

Seems pretty clear to me... ;-)

[allemand]

2. Mystery Taiwan woman in US spy storm named

By Lawrence Chung

A MYSTERIOUS Taiwan woman intelligence officer who accompanied a former senior US diplomat on an unauthorised trip to Taiwan has been identified by the island's media.
Ms Chen Nien-tzu, 34, a Taiwan National Security Bureau agent based in Washington, has been known only as Foreign Person One by US intelligence officials.

<...>

According to an affidavit presented to the court by the FBI, Keyser had frequent contacts with Foreign Person One, despite the sharp differences in ranking and age between the two. He is almost 30 years her senior.

<...>

The affidavit said on Sept 3, 2003, that Keyser flew to Taiwan from Japan for a three-day sightseeing trip. Washington-based Foreign Person One flew all the way back to Taiwan to accompany him.

<...>

The 1.65-m-tall Ms Chen, who just celebrated her 34th birthday, had graduated from the political science institute of National Taiwan University. <...> Taipei-based China Times described her as a very popular cheerleader in high school.

More:
http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/news/story/0,4386,273434,00.html?

Cherchez la femme...