Taiwan... Former officials accused of leaking sensitive information to China.

Tensions and clashes have characterized the relationship between Taiwan and China since the election of President Tsai Ing-wen, who belongs to the progressive Democratic Party that supports Taiwan's independence.

Recently, prosecutors in Taiwan accused former officials in the country, one of whom worked closely with the president, of leaking information related to national security to China.

According to a statement from the Taipei District Prosecutor's Office issued today, Tuesday, prosecutors in the capital have charged a former political aide who worked in President Tsai Ing-wen's office, and a former secretary to former Foreign Minister Joseph Wu, both Taiwanese citizens.

Under the National Security Secrets Protection Law, public prosecutors seek to impose prison sentences of no less than five and nine years consecutively.

Prosecutors are seeking prison terms of over 18.5 years for one of the former officials in the progressive Democratic Party, and eight years for the other. One of the suspects is also under investigation for allegedly building a spy network in Taiwan.