Is China Conducting Cyberattacks Alongside Military Drills Against Taiwan?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Taiwan's National Security Bureau accuses China of cyberattacks.
- Over 19,000 controversial messages shared by Chinese accounts.
- Intensified cyber intrusions targeting government networks.
- Military exercises conducted by China are seen as a show of strength.
- Taiwan continues to assert its sovereignty amidst growing threats.
Taipei, Jan 7 (NationPress) Taiwan's National Security Bureau has leveled accusations against the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), alleging that they are not only conducting military drills near the self-governing island but also executing cyberattacks. Reports indicate that over 19,000 "controversial" messages have been disseminated, accompanied by millions of hacking attempts, as stated by local media on Wednesday.
In a detailed report delivered to the Legislative Yuan, the bureau highlighted the involvement of 799 suspicious accounts, which have been actively working to foster doubt about the United States, Taiwan's President William Lai, and the military's capabilities. This effort is particularly focused on raising concerns about Taiwan's self-defense capabilities, as reported by the Taipei Times.
The intensity of cyber intrusions targeting governmental networks escalated during the military exercises, peaking at approximately 2.08 million attacks on the first day and increasing to about 2.09 million by the second day.
The legislature's Foreign Affairs and National Defence Committee has requested briefings from the bureau, the Ministry of National Defence, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Coast Guard Administration for lawmakers on Thursday. The report detailing these drills and associated security threats was shared with legislators ahead of the committee session.
The agency asserted that the CCP is conducting these drills to counteract the support Taiwan receives from its international democratic allies, distract from internal issues, and project military strength that is unaffected by anti-corruption initiatives. The bureau noted that the CCP is using these exercises to channel public dissatisfaction into a nationalist sentiment that portrays resistance to external interference, as reported by the Taipei Times.
On December 31, 2025, Taiwan's Defence Ministry reported that 207 Chinese military aircraft circled the self-governing island within 48 hours, a maneuver interpreted as a warning against separatism.
Of the total aircraft tracked until 6 am on December 31, 125 crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, entering Taiwan's air defense identification zone, according to the ministry. This behavior marks a significant deviation from previous respect for the median line by both China and Taiwan.
China views Taiwan as a breakaway territory that must be reunified with the mainland, even by force if necessary. Despite China's persistent efforts, Taiwan, buoyed by substantial public support, continues to assert its sovereignty and respond to incursions from China.