CAO YU, an award-winning cinematographer and husband of mainland actress Yao Chen, could face up to five years in jail in Taiwan for boarding a Taiwan naval ship with a faked Taiwan identity, mainland media reported.

    The incident was exposed by the circulation of a picture showing Cao and Taiwanese director and film producer Doze Niu on a naval ship.

    Niu admitted to have helped Cao enter Tsoying Naval Base in Kaohsiung City on June 1, on a trip to scout locations for Niu’s new film, “Military Paradise.”

    The Taiwan military defense department in February permitted the film crew to take pictures at the base but rejected access by mainlanders. Niu attempted to get the department’s approval for Cao’s entry to the base in May but failed.

    The Taiwan naval department said Wednesday that Niu violated related defense laws and breached good faith. The department also said it would tighten its security controls and call off all photographs at the base.

    The case has been sent to Kaohsiung prosecutors. The naval department said Niu had committed an indictable offense.

    Niu apologized for his “negligence” in not paying attention to government regulations barring mainlanders from entering sensitive military establishments, according to a statement by Atom Cinema, the producer of Niu’s “Military Paradise” which is scheduled to begin shooting next month.

    The case has aroused concerns in Taiwan’s film circles.

    Cao twice won photography awards at Taiwan’s Golden Horse Awards in 2004 and 2009, underscoring the close cinematic ties between Taiwan and the mainland.

    (Anna Zhao)