Taiwan has stepped up cybersecurity cooperation with the US and intends to take part in planned cybersecurity exercises, a senior Taiwanese official stationed in Washington said on Thursday.
“Cybersecurity cooperation is an important part of Taiwan-US relations,” Deputy Representative to the US Leo Lee (李澄然) said, adding that this cooperation includes information exchanges and assistance in manpower training.
“Joint training exercises are also good for cooperation and we look forward to taking part in drills being planned by the US authorities,” Lee said.
However, the two sides have yet to formally talk about cooperation in this area, he said.
Representative to the US King Pu-tsung (金溥聰) had lunch with senior officials from the US Department of Homeland Security earlier on Thursday and cybersecurity was one of the issues discussed.
The US government is working to toughen its cybersecurity measures after computer systems at major public institutions and corporations reportedly fell victim to an unprecedented rash of cyberattacks from China-based hackers.
The White House has listed the war against cyberattacks on major US government institutions and large conglomerates as one of its top priorities.
The US Department of State, the US Trade Representative Office and the US Department of Commerce have all begun to draft measures and administrative strategies to minimize the risks of business secrets or classified information being stolen by hackers.
Washington-based security experts and academics have described Chinese cyberattacks against major institutions in the US capital as rampant and ubiquitous, with the targets ranging from law firms, think tanks and media outlets to human rights groups, congressional offices and government agencies.
Lee said the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the US pays a great deal of attention to cybersecurity because Taiwan has also been a primary target of Chinese cyberattacks.
Lee said each staff member at the office has two computers, one of which is used for Internet searches, while the other has a physical isolation switch that disconnects it from the Internet.
The arrangement aims to prevent any leaks of sensitive information, Lee said.
Moreover, he said, Taiwan’s security agencies regularly send personnel to the country’s overseas offices to inspect their cybersecurity measures and facilities.
“We spare no effort to ensure cybersecurity,” Lee added.
‘DENIAL DEFENSE’: The US would increase its military presence with uncrewed ships, and submarines, while boosting defense in the Indo-Pacific, a Pete Hegseth memo said The US is reorienting its military strategy to focus primarily on deterring a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan, a memo signed by US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth showed. The memo also called on Taiwan to increase its defense spending. The document, known as the “Interim National Defense Strategic Guidance,” was distributed this month and detailed the national defense plans of US President Donald Trump’s administration, an article in the Washington Post said on Saturday. It outlines how the US can prepare for a potential war with China and defend itself from threats in the “near abroad,” including Greenland and the Panama
A magnitude 4.9 earthquake struck off Tainan at 11:47am today, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The hypocenter was 32.3km northeast of Tainan City Hall at a depth of 7.3km, CWA data showed. The intensity of the quake, which gauges the actual effect of a seismic event, measured 4 in Tainan and Chiayi County on Taiwan's seven-tier intensity scale, the data showed. The quake had an intensity of 3 in Chiayi City and County, and Yunlin County, while it was measured as 2 in Kaohsiung, Nantou County, Changhua County, Taitung County and offshore Penghu County, the data showed. There were no immediate reports of
The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) is maintaining close ties with Beijing, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said yesterday, hours after a new round of Chinese military drills in the Taiwan Strait began. Political parties in a democracy have a responsibility to be loyal to the nation and defend its sovereignty, DPP spokesman Justin Wu (吳崢) told a news conference in Taipei. His comments came hours after Beijing announced via Chinese state media that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theater Command was holding large-scale drills simulating a multi-pronged attack on Taiwan. Contrary to the KMT’s claims that it is staunchly anti-communist, KMT Deputy
RESPONSE: The government would investigate incidents of Taiwanese entertainers in China promoting CCP propaganda online in contravention of the law, the source said Taiwanese entertainers living in China who are found to have contravened cross-strait regulations or collaborated with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) could be subject to fines, a source said on Sunday. Several Taiwanese entertainers have posted on the social media platform Sina Weibo saying that Taiwan “must be returned” to China, and sharing news articles from Chinese state media. In response, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) has asked the Ministry of Culture to investigate whether the entertainers had contravened any laws, and asked for them to be questioned upon their return to Taiwan, an official familiar with the matter said. To curb repeated
RSS