Taiwan’s National Security Bureau has been the target of over one million hacking attacks in the first of half of this year, prompting the government to strengthen its cyberwar capabilities, AFP reports.
The bureau submitted a 2013 budget plan to parliament proposing to expand its cyberwar units while cutting military spending. The attacks, which are perceived to originate mostly from China, target government and security services websites and were prevalent during disputes between the two sides, Taipei-based Liberty Times reported. “All the attacks were detected and blocked, and no hackers have ever broken into the bureau’s official website,” the Security Bureau said in a new report. A military report said that China was using viruses to “attack Taiwan’s government, economic and military websites”.
China considers Taiwan as part of its territory under its “One China policy”. Relations between the island and mainland China have smoothed out following Beijing-friendly Ma Ying-jeou’s re-election in January.