Taiwan’s defense minister accused China on Tuesday of being the “number one country conducting daily cyberattacks” against the democratic island, rejecting allegations that Taipei-backed hackers are targeting Beijing.
China claims Taiwan as part of its territory, and relations between the two have deteriorated in recent years, with Beijing increasing its rhetoric about the inevitability of “unification.”
Taiwanese authorities report that their government agencies face an estimated five million cyberattacks each day, many of which tech giants like Microsoft have linked to state-sponsored Chinese groups.
In response to accusations from China’s national security ministry, which claimed that a group called “Anonymous 64” was conducting cyberattacks against Beijing, Defense Minister Wellington Koo stated, “This is not true.” He emphasized, “China is the number one country conducting daily cyberattacks against Taiwan and countries that share similar values.”
Koo’s remarks followed the Chinese ministry’s allegations that Anonymous 64 attempted to control various web portals and electronic displays, and that it broadcast content disparaging China. The ministry claimed that the group is linked to a cyber unit within Taiwan’s defense ministry and named three Taiwanese individuals supposedly involved, urging the public to report any “sabotage activities.”
While AFP could not verify the existence of the hacking group or the accuracy of China’s claims, Koo asserted that Taiwan’s military is committed to “protecting its people and defending our free and democratic way of life.” He added, “China’s statement will not have a chilling effect.”
Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense also refuted China’s accusations, stating, “The current hostile situation and cyber threats are severe.” They highlighted that Chinese forces continue to disrupt Taiwan through aircraft, naval vessels, and cyberattacks, contributing to regional instability.
