Presidential Office employee arrested over possible leak

The arrest follows Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou's eight-month-long effort to improve ties with rival China, including holding high-level talks and establishing direct transportation links between the sides.

Presidential spokesman Wang Yu-chi said senior office staffer Wang Jen-bing was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of leaking documents related to Ma's inauguration last May. He said the leak violated the island's National Security Law.

The law is usually applied to espionage relating to China.

The mass circulation Liberty Times reported on its Web site that Wang Jen-bing allegedly gave away confidential information to Chinese authorities between March and April last year.

Wang Yu-chi would not comment directly about the recipient of the documents.

Taiwan and China split amid civil war in 1949. China continues to claim the island as part of its territory and remains committed to unification - by persuasion if possible, by force if necessary.

Ties between the two sides were constantly strained under Ma's predecessor Chen Shui-bian, a strong advocate for Taiwan's independence. Since his inauguration, Ma has vowed to turn a corner on Chen's strident anti-Beijing policy and improve bilateral trade relations to boost Taiwan's economy.

The Ma administration has also proposed to start a military exchange with Beijing and eventually sign a peace treaty with China.

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