President of the Republic of China, Lai Ching-te, attended the CYBERSEC 2025 Taiwan Cybersecurity Conference today (15th), emphasizing Taiwan’s position at the forefront of global cybersecurity risks in addition to facing threats from the Chinese Communist Party. He mentioned that the government’s internet service network was disrupted an average of 2.4 million times per day last year, double the number from the year before.
In his speech at the opening ceremony of the CYBERSEC 2025 Taiwan Cybersecurity Conference, President Lai Ching-te expressed gratitude on behalf of the government to the organizers, “Business Weekly Cultural Enterprise,” for their long-standing efforts in the field of cybersecurity. He also thanked domestic and foreign dignitaries for their participation, promoting cybersecurity cooperation and exchanges.
President Lai noted that the scale of the Taiwan Cybersecurity Conference grows larger each year and has become one of the most iconic cybersecurity exchange platforms in Asia. This year, with over 300 professional speeches and more than 400 global cybersecurity brands in attendance, it is estimated that over 20,000 professionals will participate.
Recognizing the increasing digital threats, President Lai emphasized the importance of teamwork at this year’s conference, with a focus on Team Cybersecurity. By gathering global cybersecurity experts to share experiences and enhance communication, the conference aims to meet the demands for digital security and contribute to the establishment of a global cybersecurity defense system.
President Lai stressed that Taiwan, situated on the front line of the first island chain, faces not only military threats from China but also stands at the forefront of global cybersecurity risks in the cyber world. He mentioned the significant increase in disruptions to the government’s internet service network last year, with an average of 2.4 million daily attacks, doubling from the previous year.
In recent months, Taiwan has experienced a series of ransomware attacks by CrazyHunter, targeting hospitals, schools, and publicly-listed companies. Investigation results have revealed these attacks were carried out by Chinese hackers, highlighting the increasing severity of cyber intrusions in Taiwan.
To uphold the spirit of “cybersecurity is national security,” President Lai mentioned initiatives such as the “Cybersecurity Industry Development Action Plan” during his tenure as Premier, the passage of the “Information Security Management Act,” and the establishment of the “Digital Development Department” and the “National Cybersecurity Research Institute.” Former President Tsai Ing-wen also promoted the “Cybersecurity is National Security 2.0” national strategy in her second term, integrating the “Cybersecurity Excellence” plan into the “six core strategic industries,” providing robust support for the development of the cybersecurity industry.
President Lai highlighted the establishment of the “National Defense Resilience Committee” in the Presidential Office since taking office last year, inviting private organizations and experts to strengthen critical infrastructure, telecommunications, transport, and financial network security to make Taiwan a resilient island in terms of cybersecurity, further promoting the development of the cybersecurity industry. Last month, he proposed 17 national security response strategies, including proactive measures by regulatory agencies to prevent malicious actors from endangering Taiwan’s cybersecurity environment through networks, applications, AI, and other tools.
Emphasizing the continuous reinforcement of response capabilities and management mechanisms in the face of pervasive cybersecurity challenges, President Lai assured that the government will support the development of domestically manufactured cybersecurity products and services while encouraging investment in cybersecurity startups. The goal is to assist various industries in enhancing cybersecurity resilience for Taiwan’s industrial growth. With representatives from various countries present at the event, he believes that Taiwan’s experiences in promoting cybersecurity will contribute to future mutual assistance and exchanges with other nations, building closer partnerships.
In conclusion, President Lai expressed gratitude to all pioneers for their dedication and contributions to cybersecurity, hoping for collective efforts to achieve more outcomes for the development of cybersecurity in Taiwan, ensuring a safer nation and more prosperous industries. The President also visited the “Taiwan Cybersecurity Hall” guided by the organizers.