Wo Weihan

On November 28 China executed Wo Weihan, a spy accused of passing information on the mainland's missile guidance systems to intelligence agencies in Taiwan, Global Times reported.

Wo Weihan was born in Qiqihaer, northeast Heilongjiang in 1948. He graduated from the department of medical science, Harbin University in 1981 and received a Doctor's Degree in Germany in 1987.

Since he was poor and had developed links with members of the "democracy movement" during his studies in Germany, he was persuaded to spy for intelligence agencies in Taiwan.

Between 1990 and 2000, Wo repeatedly collected information from the mainland, including lists of PLA personnel and PLA battle plans.

In the late 1990s, Wo met and bribed Guo Wanjun, a missile designer who, over a long period, provided him with information on strategic missiles, even though he knew Wo was working for the Taiwan espionage services.

Wo even attended Guo's lectures on related subjects and took notes, which he then delivered to intelligence agencies in Taiwan. The chief of the Taiwan intelligence agency met with Wo in a European country.

China's security services arrested Wo and Guo in 2005 after ascertaining that Guo had provided Wo with 7 pieces of top-secret information and caused severe damage to China's security and national defense.

According to Global Times, Chinese judicial organs arrived at their verdict strictly according to the law, and the two suspects enjoyed full legal rights including defense lawyers, as well as medical treatment when Wo suffered a recurrence of a long-standing disease.

Beijing No. 2 Intermediate People's Court announced Wo and Guo's death penalty on January 29 after a trial that, for security reasons, was not open to the public. They were executed on November 28 after Wo's wife and youngest daughter were allowed a final visit.

(China.org.cn by Jessica Zhang, December 4, 2008)