The people of Taiwan have become obsessed with a scandal that involves a self-proclaimed Chinese spy, their country's elections and booksellers in Hong Kong. (Nikkei montage/ Source photos by Getty Images and Reuters)

'China spy' spills secrets that rattle Taiwan and Hong Kong

Investigation has potential to sway elections and regional power game

KATSUJI NAKAZAWA, Nikkei senior staff writer

November 28, 2019 15:15 JST

TAIPEI -- On Sunday morning, as voting began in Hong Kong's district council elections, where pro-democracy forces were about to score a historic victory, Taiwan was buzzing with a new scandal.

At a convenience store in Taipei, a shop attendant continued to point to a corner of the shop, directing customers to the place that all of them were looking for. The shelf with the day's newspaper piled up.