Taiwan's High Court has sentenced a Taiwanese businessman to 18 months in prison on charges of spying for China.

Lai Kun-chieh was arrested earlier this year after attempting to buy information about Taiwan's missile technology from an army officer who was also a former classmate.

The military officer reported the incident and officials said no sensitive information was released.

Reports from Taipei say Lai was recruited by Chinese intelligence agents while working in China last year.

Earlier this year, an army general was sentenced to life in prison for spying for China.

Despite warming ties, China and Taiwan continue to spy on each other.

Taiwan has been self-governing since the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949. Beijing insists the island is still part of its territory and must eventually be reunited with the mainland, by force if necessary.