Microsoft on Thursday revealed that it had detected a campaign by China-backed hackers targeting civilian and government infrastructure in the US and its territory of Guam. The report was quickly confirmed by Western intelligence agencies. Some have said the campaign could be part of efforts to delay a US or other allied response to a possible Chinese attack against Taiwan.
The campaign was discovered following the detection of mysterious computer code in telecommunications systems in Guam and elsewhere in the US. The discovery prompted Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the UK to issue cybersecurity alerts against similar campaigns targeting their systems.
Microsoft analysts said the cyberattacks were carried out by Volt Typhoon, a state-sponsored hacker group based in China, which usually focuses on espionage and information gathering.
However, this is the first time that a threat actor appeared to be laying the groundwork for coming attacks, as the “Volt Typhoon campaign is pursuing development of capabilities that could disrupt critical communications infrastructure between the United States and Asia region during future crises,” Microsoft said.
The cyberattack on government infrastructure in Guam, which is home to a critical US military base key to maintaining Washington’s presence in the Asia-Pacific region, might have been a test run of an attempt to hamper the US’ capability to respond to possible Chinese military action in the region, such as an invasion of Taiwan.
Taiwan is no stranger to cyberattacks originating from China: Government agencies face an average of 5 million cyberattacks and probes a day.
The cyberattacks are part of China’s cognitive warfare campaign, National Security Council Secretary-General Wellington Koo (顧立雄) told media this week, adding that they are also aimed at stealing technology and information, damaging crucial system operations.
Cybersecurity is a new, but crucial field for national security. The latest incident shows that China might launch an invasion of Taiwan while unleashing a volley of cyberattacks against the US and its allies to cripple their responses without firing a shot.
The US House of Representatives Select Committee on Strategic Competition Between the US and the Chinese Communist Party said in a report that Taiwan and the US are vulnerable in the cyberspace, urging US lawmakers to improve cybersecurity at US ports and help Taiwan do the same by passing the bipartisan Taiwan cybersecurity resilience act to deepen transnational cooperation.
To counter cyberthreats from China, Taiwan has steadily put a lot effort into organizational structures for offensive cybercapability, such as setting up an “information in communication electronic force command” to bring communication, cyber and electronic warfare units under one roof.
Experts have said that Taiwan has the capability to breach China’s key systems, examples of which have already been reported.
The government further established the Ministry of Digital Affairs and the National Institute for Cyber Security to direct policy and upgrade technology, and passed the Cyber Security Management Act (資通安全管理法) to enhance the cybersecurity environment in the government and private sectors, as well as to promote public awareness of cybersecurity.
Taiwan could play a critical role in thwarting Chinese cyberattacks worldwide. The nation should accelerate the buildup of cybersecurity networks with other democratic nations to counter Beijing’ disruptive attacks.
To The Honorable Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜): We would like to extend our sincerest regards to you for representing Taiwan at the inauguration of US President Donald Trump on Monday. The Taiwanese-American community was delighted to see that Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan speaker not only received an invitation to attend the event, but successfully made the trip to the US. We sincerely hope that you took this rare opportunity to share Taiwan’s achievements in freedom, democracy and economic development with delegations from other countries. In recent years, Taiwan’s economic growth and world-leading technology industry have been a source of pride for Taiwanese-Americans.
Next week, the nation is to celebrate the Lunar New Year break. Unfortunately, cold winds are a-blowing, literally and figuratively. The Central Weather Administration has warned of an approaching cold air mass, while obstinate winds of chaos eddy around the Legislative Yuan. English theologian Thomas Fuller optimistically pointed out in 1650 that “it’s always darkest before the dawn.” We could paraphrase by saying the coldest days are just before the renewed hope of spring. However, one must temper any optimism about the damage being done in the legislature by the opposition Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), under
To our readers: Due to the Lunar New Year holiday, from Sunday, Jan. 26, through Sunday, Feb. 2, the Taipei Times will have a reduced format without our regular editorials and opinion pieces. From Tuesday to Saturday the paper will not be delivered to subscribers, but will be available for purchase at convenience stores. Subscribers will receive the editions they missed once normal distribution resumes on Sunday, Feb. 2. The paper returns to its usual format on Monday, Feb. 3, when our regular editorials and opinion pieces will also be resumed.
This year would mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the India Taipei Association (ITA) in Taipei and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Center (TECC) in New Delhi. From the vision of “Look East” in the 1990s, India’s policy has evolved into a resolute “Act East,” which complements Taiwan’s “New Southbound Policy.” In these three decades, India and Taiwan have forged a rare partnership — one rooted in shared democratic values, a commitment to openness and pluralism, and clear complementarities in trade and technology. The government of India has rolled out the red carpet for Taiwanese investors with attractive financial incentives
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