The government must make the cybersecurity budget a top priority and avoid compromising national security because of politics, members of the Taiwan Digital Defense Consortium said on Monday.
The consortium was formed last year by eight cybersecurity advocacy groups: the Taiwan Information Security Association, the Taiwan Cyber Security Application Services Alliance, the Taiwan Cyber Security Industry Development Association, the Next Digital Security Cluster, the Taiwan Cyber Security Alliance, the Association of Cybersecurity Talents Cultivation, the Declaration of Hackers and the Taiwan Cyberspace and Cybersecurity Policy Development Association.
The consortium issued a statement ahead of cross-party negotiations yesterday, with Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) to facilitate discussions over how to resolve a deadlock between the executive and legislative branches caused by a comprehensive budget cut.
Photo: Tu Chien-jung, Taipei Times
“Cybersecurity is not only a line of defense for the corporate world, it is also the pillar that safeguards national security, as well as the nation’s key infrastructure and economy,” the statement said.
“With an increase in cybersecurity threats around the globe, Taiwan needs stable and long-term support from the government to ensure continual development of its cybersecurity industry, and to build a resilient cybersecurity defense system,” it said.
“As such, the budget related to cybersecurity projects must be a top priority, which should not be affected by political factors,” it added. “We hope that legislators could quickly reach a consensus so that budget plans that can help Taiwan can be passed.”
The consortium said that its members visited Vice Premier Cheng Li-chun (鄭麗君), with Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Lin Chu-yin (林楚茵) attending the meeting.
Cheng agreed with the consortium’s vision of turning Taiwan into a global leader in the cybersecurity industry for the “smart era,” the consortium said, adding that she also pledged support to help integrate security resources from the government and industry.
The government needs to bolster cybersecurity policies, as the development of the digital economy also has risks, the consortium cited Lin as saying.
She also promised to help build a more well-rounded cybersecurity environment by proposing bills and funding for cybersecurity programs, it added.
Consortium chairman Tim Tu (涂睿珅) said that it is introducing a Cybersecurity Industry Action Plan 2.0, with the goal of building Taiwan into a research, development and innovation hub of cybersecurity in the Asia-Pacific region.
“Aside from innovation, Taiwan’s cybersecurity industry needs government support and partnerships among industry operators to establish itself as a global leader,” Tu said.
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