State security departments of the Chinese mainland have smashed a ring of intelligence agents, arresting 24 spies from Taiwan and 19 mainlanders involved, a spokesman for the state security authorities said here Wednesday.

The intelligence departments of Taiwan have never given up their attempts to spy on the mainland, the spokesman said, noting that these spies conducted activities in violation of the law.

The law never allows anyone to threaten the safety and interests of the mainland, and moreover, what these spies did may bring catastrophes and bitterness to the people of Taiwan, the spokesman said.

The state security departments, which captured and interrogated the spies, have behaved strictly in accordance with the law, are protecting their rights, and providing them with daily necessities and medical services. The spies are in good health.

All those arrested in this case have expressed their gratitude to the state security departments for the humanitarian treatment they have received.

Currently, the case is being further investigated, though these spies have confessed all their crimes, the spokesman said.

(Xinhua News Agency December 25, 2003)