TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s government networks have been hit with an average of 2.8 million cyber intrusions per day this year, according to a National Security Bureau document released on Monday.
The cyberattacks target government institutions, critical infrastructure, industrial supply chains, policy operations, foreign cooperation, and sensitive technologies, the NSB said, per CNA. The bureau said these operations are directed by the People’s Liberation Army and utilize civil-military integration and public-private collaboration to form cyber militias and hacker auxiliaries.
Beijing’s cyber warfare strategy combines covert infiltration with political manipulation, including spreading fake or misleading content through the dark web, online forums, and media, to undermine public confidence in Taiwan’s cybersecurity defenses, the NSB said.
The NSB said it has identified over 1.5 million pieces of disinformation and more than 10,800 “abnormal” accounts this year. China spreads messages mostly through Facebook and online forums that criticize the Taiwanese government and promote pro-China narratives to create divisions within Taiwanese society.
China also continues to infiltrate Taiwan’s military and government agencies by recruiting retired officers to lure active personnel and other methods, like online networking, financial incentives, and debt coercion, the NSB said.
Beijing seeks to build spy networks in Taiwan to steal sensitive defense and government intelligence. From January to September, 24 people were indicted in espionage cases, including 13 current or former military personnel, accounting for 54% of the total, according to the NSB.
The NSB also warned that China may increase interference during Taiwan’s nine-in-one local elections next year. The bureau said it would implement a comprehensive security plan and conduct local risk assessments in advance to detect abnormal activities and ensure the elections proceed smoothly.
The NSB added that it would expand intelligence collection on China, cooperate with global allies, and improve intelligence operations to provide better insights that strengthen Taiwan’s national security decision-making.
