Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan (LY) has reported an alarming surge in cyberattacks from China, with an average of 900,000 monthly hacking attempts targeting the legislative body. This revelation, made by Cheng Hui-pin, head of the legislature’s IT department, underscores the escalating tensions between the two nations and the underlying state-run cyber operations.
The announcement came during a review of the LY’s budget last week by the Judiciary and Organic Law and Statutes Committee, where Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Chung Chia-pin raised concerns about the legislature’s technological and operational infrastructure, reports The Economic Times.
Cheng disclosed the staggering frequency of cyberattacks in response to questions about LY’s network security and performance. He emphasised that protecting the legislative body’s IT systems is a top priority, especially as these networks connect to devices containing sensitive information critical to national security.
Under Taiwan’s Cyber Security Management Act, the IT department routinely evaluates and fortifies LY’s cyber defences. Cheng assured lawmakers that a comprehensive report addressing these issues would be submitted promptly.
Beyond cybersecurity, Legislator Chung highlighted several operational inefficiencies plaguing the Legislative Yuan. He noted that the legislature’s WiFi service suffers from persistent outages and slow speeds, which could hinder legislative operations.
Further concerns were raised about audio equipment in legislative chambers, with microphones reportedly producing excessively loud sounds, potentially harming hearing and disrupting nearby proceedings. Chung urged the IT department to investigate these issues and provide solutions within three months, warning that failure to do so could result in budgetary repercussions.
In November 2024, a China-linked Earth Kasha cyber hacking group targeted Taiwan, Japan, and India’s public sector and individuals associated with international affairs, politicians, and researchers in the academic sector.
In July, Chinese hackers associated with Bronze Highland targeted Taiwan and a US NGO with a new set of malware tools. Similarly, in February, Earth Lusca, another China-based threat actor attacked Taiwan just days before the country went into presidential elections.
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