Taiwan’s National Security Bureau (NSB) has reported a sharp rise in cyberattacks linked to China, marking a 17% increase compared to last year, with government departments facing an average of 2.8 million hacking attempts per day in 2025. The bureau’s report, presented ahead of a parliamentary session, revealed that these attacks primarily target medical systems, defence infrastructure, telecommunications, and energy networks.
Beijing’s cyber activity forms part of what Taipei describes as “grey-zone” tactics a mix of non-military coercive measures including disinformation campaigns and military drills aimed at undermining Taiwan’s stability and forcing it to accept China’s sovereignty claims.
Why It Matters
The surge in cyber aggression underscores the evolving nature of cross-strait tensions, as China shifts from traditional military intimidation to digital and psychological warfare. These tactics not only threaten Taiwan’s critical infrastructure but also aim to undermine public confidence in government systems and sow distrust toward the United States, Taiwan’s key ally and arms supplier.
Cyber conflict between the two sides represents a growing front in geopolitical competition, with information manipulation becoming a key tool of statecraft ahead of Taiwan’s upcoming elections.
Taiwanese Government: Grappling with cyber resilience challenges as it seeks to strengthen digital defences and counter disinformation.
Chinese Authorities: Accused of orchestrating large-scale cyber and information operations, though Beijing denies involvement and claims it too faces cyberattacks.
The United States: As Taiwan’s primary backer, Washington has a stake in ensuring the island’s cyber stability and countering Chinese influence operations in the Indo-Pacific.
Tech Platforms: Social media companies like Facebook have become conduits for disinformation, with over 10,000 “abnormal” accounts detected spreading fabricated narratives.
What’s Next
Taiwan is expected to ramp up cybersecurity cooperation with Western partners and tighten monitoring of online spaces, especially ahead of key elections and trade negotiations with Washington. Officials have warned that China’s use of AI-generated content and meme warfare could intensify, amplifying false narratives through coordinated troll networks.
With information from Reuters.
