The Taiwan Ministry of National Defense’s information and communication electronic warfare unit has been accused by Chinese state media CCTV of operating a hacker organization that frequently launches cyberattacks against the networks of China, Hong Kong, and Macau. In response, the Taiwan Ministry of National Defense’s information and communication electronic warfare unit denied the allegations, stating that the real disruptors of regional peace and stability are the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China, with their current hostile actions and cyber threats.
CCTV reported that a hacker group named “Anonymous 64” has been behind the recent surge in cyberattacks on mainland China and the regions of Hong Kong and Macau, attributing these attacks to the Taiwan Ministry of National Defense’s information and communication electronic warfare unit, and even revealing the identities of three active-duty personnel in the unit.
The Taiwan Ministry of National Defense’s information and communication electronic warfare unit command released a statement today, refuting the accusations made by mainland Chinese media about the military allegedly harboring hackers for attacks on China. The unit clarified that its cyber warfare squadron is responsible for defending national information and cyber security, emphasizing that the allegations from the mainland are baseless.
Highlighting the grave current threats and cyber risks, the Taiwan Ministry of National Defense’s information and communication electronic warfare unit underscored that the PLA and its affiliated forces persist in using various means like air, naval, and cyber attacks to provoke Taiwan, being the instigators of disrupting regional peace. The unit vowed to continue enhancing national defense cyber security in accordance with the directives from the Ministry to protect the country’s security.
China has shown no sign of relinquishing military actions against Taiwan, with PLA aircraft and vessels harassing Taiwan almost daily. Moreover, China frequently employs gray-zone tactics and psychological operations to disturb the strategic location of Taiwan, situated along the first island chain.
According to the Taiwan Ministry of National Defense’s recent disclosures on the activities in the airspace around the Taiwan Strait, from 6 a.m. on the 22nd to 6 a.m. today, they detected a total of eight instances of Chinese naval vessels operating in the vicinity of the Taiwan Strait. The Taiwanese military has been closely monitoring and responding using aircraft, ships, and land-based missile systems.
In the updates on the Chinese military activities in the airspace around the Taiwan Strait released by the Taiwan Ministry of National Defense on the 22nd, from 6 a.m. on the 21st to 6 a.m. on the 22nd, there were six instances of Chinese military aircraft (including three instances of entering into the central airspace after crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait) and six instances of Chinese naval vessels operating in the region. The Taiwanese military remains vigilant against these activities, employing aircraft, ships, and land-based missile systems for surveillance and response.