The Ministry of National Defense’s (MND) Information, Communications and Electronic Force Command (ICEFCOM) yesterday denied accusations by China that it had undermined regional security by carrying out cyberattacks against targets in China, adding instead that Beijing was responsible for raising tensions and undermining regional peace.
The Chinese Ministry of State Security on WeChat accused a hacker group called “Anonymous 64” of targeting China, Hong Kong and Macau starting earlier this year through frequent cyberattacks.
The group carried out cyberattacks to seize control of Web sites, outdoor electronic billboards and video-on-demand platforms in China, Hong Kong and Macau, it said, adding the hackers’ activities include spreading false information, creating rifts in the public and weakening the governance of the Chinese Communist Party.
Photo: Reuters
It claimed that “Anonymous 64” is actually a front for ICEFCOM’s Cyber Warfare Unit, and identified three individuals it said are members of the Taiwanese military being investigated for being involved in the alleged cyberattacks
ICEFCOM, established in July 2017, is a relatively new, but important unit responsible for managing military communications, network security and information warfare. It has about 6,000 personnel.
ICEFCOM yesterday denied the allegations, and instead called out China’s use of “gray zone” tactics as raising regional tensions.
Photo: screen grab from China Central Television
“The current enemy situation and cyberthreats are severe,” it said in a statement. “The Chinese communist military and forces that coordinate with it continue to use aircraft, ships and cyberattacks to harass Taiwan and are ... undermining regional peace.”
The geopolitical threats Taiwan faces are severe, including disruptions by aircraft, naval vessels, cyberattacks, misinformation and other means, ICEFCOM said, adding that it would continue to strengthen its defenses to maintain national security.
The ministry said that “Anonymous” is a well-known hacker collective that frequently targets undemocratic regimes, and China has added the No. 64 to the name to make it seem as though it is the sole target.
It is an attempt by China to gloss over recent accusations from the international community regarding its cyberwarfare tactics, as well as a way of undermining international support for Taiwan, it added.
A national security official speaking on condition of anonymity yesterday said that it is an attempt by China to increase domestic anti-Taiwanese sentiment and inflame tensions across the Taiwan Strait.
Institute for National Defense and Security Research deputy CEO Shen Ming-shih (沈明室) said that China publishing the names and photographs of the accused is an attempt to create a chilling effect within Taiwan’s armed forces and deter personnel from being loyal to the government.
The invisible nature of cyberwarfare means that ICEFCOM and its cyberunit often engage in highly sensitive and covert operations.
ICEFCOM played a major role in the 2022 Han Kuang 38 live-fire joint military exercise, where it simulated key military command centers under attack transferring to backup command centers, sources said. It also played a key role in defending Taiwan’s digital infrastructure in August of that year when then-US House of Representatives speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan, leading to Chinese cyberattacks on Web sites, digital billboards and other infrastructure, they said..
Additional reporting by Aaron Tu, Chen Yu-fu and Reuters
CARROT AND STICK: While unrelenting in its military threats, China attracted nearly 40,000 Taiwanese to over 400 business events last year Nearly 40,000 Taiwanese last year joined industry events in China, such as conferences and trade fairs, supported by the Chinese government, a study showed yesterday, as Beijing ramps up a charm offensive toward Taipei alongside military pressure. China has long taken a carrot-and-stick approach to Taiwan, threatening it with the prospect of military action while reaching out to those it believes are amenable to Beijing’s point of view. Taiwanese security officials are wary of what they see as Beijing’s influence campaigns to sway public opinion after Taipei and Beijing gradually resumed travel links halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the scale of
TRADE: A mandatory declaration of origin for manufactured goods bound for the US is to take effect on May 7 to block China from exploiting Taiwan’s trade channels All products manufactured in Taiwan and exported to the US must include a signed declaration of origin starting on May 7, the Bureau of Foreign Trade announced yesterday. US President Donald Trump on April 2 imposed a 32 percent tariff on imports from Taiwan, but one week later announced a 90-day pause on its implementation. However, a universal 10 percent tariff was immediately applied to most imports from around the world. On April 12, the Trump administration further exempted computers, smartphones and semiconductors from the new tariffs. In response, President William Lai’s (賴清德) administration has introduced a series of countermeasures to support affected
Pope Francis is be laid to rest on Saturday after lying in state for three days in St Peter’s Basilica, where the faithful are expected to flock to pay their respects to history’s first Latin American pontiff. The cardinals met yesterday in the Vatican’s synod hall to chart the next steps before a conclave begins to choose Francis’ successor, as condolences poured in from around the world. According to current norms, the conclave must begin between May 5 and 10. The cardinals set the funeral for Saturday at 10am in St Peter’s Square, to be celebrated by the dean of the College
CROSS-STRAIT: The vast majority of Taiwanese support maintaining the ‘status quo,’ while concern is rising about Beijing’s influence operations More than eight out of 10 Taiwanese reject Beijing’s “one country, two systems” framework for cross-strait relations, according to a survey released by the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) on Thursday. The MAC’s latest quarterly survey found that 84.4 percent of respondents opposed Beijing’s “one country, two systems” formula for handling cross-strait relations — a figure consistent with past polling. Over the past three years, opposition to the framework has remained high, ranging from a low of 83.6 percent in April 2023 to a peak of 89.6 percent in April last year. In the most recent poll, 82.5 percent also rejected China’s
RSS