Recent incidents in Europe have raised concerns as supermarkets and banks fall prey to cyberattacks, leading to critical disruptions. During the Berlin Security Conference, Lin Fei-fan, the Deputy Secretary-General of the National Security Council of the Republic of China, spoke with reporters, revealing that Taiwan is hit by approximately 2.8 million cyberattacks daily. He likened Taiwan to a “perfect honeypot,” where the extensive collection of cybersecurity intelligence has garnered increasing attention from European partners.
The 25th Berlin Security Conference took place from November 3rd to 4th, where Lin Fei-fan participated in several discussions. He shared insights on Taiwan’s approach to enhancing societal resilience against threats, with representatives from European governments, military institutions, and various industries.
Lin noted that Taiwan has long faced military threats from the Chinese Communist Party, alongside mixed threats such as damage to undersea cables and continual cyberattacks. The widespread attacks target various sectors including government agencies, energy, healthcare, and other critical infrastructure.
According to Lin, a cybersecurity advisor at the National Security Council described Taiwan as a “perfect honeypot” for cyberattacks. The term “honeypot” in cybersecurity refers to systems designed to lure hackers and observe their attack methods. Taiwan’s prolonged experiences with cyberattacks have allowed it to gather a wealth of knowledge about various attack patterns and security intelligence. He emphasized Taiwan’s willingness to share its experiences with like-minded nations.
Recently, European countries, including France, have experienced cyberattacks affecting essential public services. One notable incident involved hackers remotely controlling refrigeration equipment in French supermarkets, causing food spoilage. This development underscores how cyberattacks have begun to impact the daily lives of citizens in Europe. In response to inquiries about how Taiwan handles similar threats, Lin highlighted the government’s recent initiatives to safeguard critical systems through cloud-based backup mechanisms. This ensures that essential data is preserved during disasters and that core system functionalities remain intact and accessible.
Moreover, Taiwan’s government is conducting comprehensive cybersecurity assessments across various systems. In collaboration with allied nations, Taiwan is working to strengthen its cybersecurity defenses. Moving forward, transparency in verification processes will be a priority to enhance the resilience of critical public systems.
When asked why European nations are increasingly valuing Taiwan’s defense experiences, Lin noted that many European countries recognize the parallels between Taiwan’s situation—facing military coercion from China—and the threats posed by Russia. They are eager to learn how Taiwan responds to such challenges, seeking actionable insights that could be applicable within their own contexts.
He provided an example from recent urban resilience exercises in Taiwan, which simulate wartime scenarios to familiarize local governments and civilian entities with crisis response protocols. This year, Taiwan conducted drills to test the capabilities of emergency responses under conditions of network slowdown, further inviting international media attention to how Taiwan translates policies into practical actions.
Additionally, Lin revealed plans for the next year to enhance the synchronization of urban resilience exercises with Taiwan’s annual Han Guang military drills. This integration would allow local governments and grassroots military units to practice together in identical scenarios, thereby improving coordination and crisis management capabilities.
During the discussions, a German interlocutor expressed curiosity about how the Taiwanese government fosters a sense of crisis awareness and resilience among its citizens. Lin showcased “The Little Orange Book,” a safety guideline distributed to households across Taiwan, explaining how the government implements disaster preparedness and emergency evacuation procedures to empower citizens in times of crisis and strengthen societal resilience from the family level upwards.
Lin summarized the principles underpinning Taiwan’s push for comprehensive societal resilience: “Leadership, transparency, and confidence.” He asserted that leaders must confront security challenges honestly, disclosing potential risks to society while fostering public confidence through proactive preparedness and practice.
In several statements throughout the Berlin Security Conference, Lin emphasized the importance of collective international efforts in effectively deterring aggression. He conveyed that Taiwan and European nations could enhance collaborations in various fields, ranging from supply chain security and economic safety to civilian defense training, thereby collectively preventing conflicts in the Taiwan Strait. Nonetheless, he affirmed that Taiwan is committed to ensuring its own defense preparedness and will not merely wait for assistance from other countries.