The military yesterday established an Information and Electronic Warfare Command as it steps up efforts to create a leading unit to oversee all aspects of cyberdefense operations, a report by the Ministry of National Defense said.
The center’s establishment is in line with President Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) dictum that “information security is national security,” the ministry said, adding that it is placed under the direct command of the General Staff.
Speaking at the ceremony, Tsai said Taiwan has always possessed the capability to establish comprehensive security architecture, but lacked determination and action.
Photo: CNA
Information and electronic warfare units already exist throughout the armed forces and the new command is to integrate and coordinate the groups’ duties with support from the Office of the General Staff for Communications, Electronics and Information, Tsai said.
The Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology and civilian sources are to provide the new command with technical support, Tsai said, adding that it is to work alongside the Executive Yuan to create protective measures in response to attacks on information security that would be on par with those used in the US and other nations.
Tsai said the command is to form the first of many tiers of deeterrence, in accordance with the military’s multi-layered deterrent strategy, and could hopefully rise above the squabbles among the armed forces to become an example inter-branch coordination.
The branch is to work not only to integrate cyberdefense in the military, but also within other branches of the government, ensuring that the command is a source of innovation, Tsai said.
The unit is expected to become the nation’s main mover in research and development on electronic and information warfare, Tsai said, adding that it is also expected to foster talent.
Major General Ma Ying-han (馬英漢) was sworn in as commander of the command, which is to be headquartered in New Taipei City’s Sindian District (新店).
Ma received a his master’s degree in information management at Yuan Ze University and and was director of the information security division in the Office of the General Staff for Communications, Electronics and Information.
Chief of General Staff Lee Hsi-ming (李喜明) said Ma should train officers and soldiers at the command to be professional and quick to respond.
Alain Robert, known as the "French Spider-Man," praised Alex Honnold as exceptionally well-prepared after the US climber completed a free solo ascent of Taipei 101 yesterday. Robert said Honnold's ascent of the 508m-tall skyscraper in just more than one-and-a-half hours without using safety ropes or equipment was a remarkable achievement. "This is my life," he said in an interview conducted in French, adding that he liked the feeling of being "on the edge of danger." The 63-year-old Frenchman climbed Taipei 101 using ropes in December 2004, taking about four hours to reach the top. On a one-to-10 scale of difficulty, Robert said Taipei 101
Nipah virus infection is to be officially listed as a category 5 notifiable infectious disease in Taiwan in March, while clinical treatment guidelines are being formulated, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. With Nipah infections being reported in other countries and considering its relatively high fatality rate, the centers on Jan. 16 announced that it would be listed as a notifiable infectious disease to bolster the nation’s systematic early warning system and increase public awareness, the CDC said. Bangladesh reported four fatal cases last year in separate districts, with three linked to raw date palm sap consumption, CDC Epidemic Intelligence
Taiwanese and US defense groups are collaborating to introduce deployable, semi-autonomous manufacturing systems for drones and components in a boost to the nation’s supply chain resilience. Taiwan’s G-Tech Optroelectronics Corp subsidiary GTOC and the US’ Aerkomm Inc on Friday announced an agreement with fellow US-based Firestorm Lab to adopt the latter’s xCell, a technology featuring 3D printers fitted in 6.1m container units. The systems enable aerial platforms and parts to be produced in high volumes from dispersed nodes capable of rapid redeployment, to minimize the risk of enemy strikes and to meet field requirements, they said. Firestorm chief technology officer Ian Muceus said
MORE FALL: An investigation into one of Xi’s key cronies, part of a broader ‘anti-corruption’ drive, indicates that he might have a deep distrust in the military, an expert said China’s latest military purge underscores systemic risks in its shift from collective leadership to sole rule under Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平), and could disrupt its chain of command and military capabilities, a national security official said yesterday. If decisionmaking within the Chinese Communist Party has become “irrational” under one-man rule, the Taiwan Strait and the regional situation must be approached with extreme caution, given unforeseen risks, they added. The anonymous official made the remarks as China’s Central Military Commission Vice Chairman Zhang Youxia (張又俠) and Joint Staff Department Chief of Staff Liu Zhenli (劉振立) were reportedly being investigated for suspected “serious
RSS