Editor's note: This article was originally posted at 12:39 p.m. EDT on May 13 and has been updated.
The Navy officer accused of spying will face a general court-martial and is to appear at an arraignment in Norfolk, Virginia,Va. on May 17.
Adm. Phil Davidson, the head of Fleet Forces Command, referred the Lt. Cmdr. Edward Lin case to the highest type of court-martial on May 10, said Navy spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Tim Hawkins.
Lin is charged with espionage, attempted espionage, making false official statements, communicating defense information and failing to report foreign contacts and the compromise of classified information.
"Allegations of prostitution and adultery were dismissed without prejudice at this time," Hawkins said.
The naval flight officer worked in an elite reconnaissance squadron that flies spy missions in the Asia-Pacific region. Lin, who was born in Taiwan, is suspected of providing secrets to Taiwan, China or both. The charges have not identified which country or what he is alleged to have provided.
Lin's defense attorney has maintained his client did not commit espionage; his family has called the charges against him "sensationalized." Lin became a U.S. citizen in 1998 and enlisted in the Navy the following year; he was picked up for Officer Candidate School in 2002.
Lin's attorney said Monday that he was pleased that the Navy dropped the adultery and prostitution charges against Lin.
"We maintain that Lt. Cmdr. Lin is innocent of espionage, innocent of failing to follow lawful orders, innocent of false official statements and innocent of violating Article 134 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice," attorney Larry Youngner said in a May 16 statement. "Now that the remainder of Lt. Cmdr. Lin's case has been referred to a court-martial, we request a speedy trial on the merits and look forward to defending Lt. Cmdr. Eddy Lin, who has honorably served the United States, to include combat tours, since 1999."
Lin's service in Special Projects Patrol Squadron 2 means that much of the court-martial proceedings will be closed to the public.
