Taiwan Finds 2.63 Million Cyber Attacks Per Day from China

ILLUSTRATION UNSPLASH/Timo Volz

JAKARTA - Taiwan recorded an average of 2.63 million cyber attack attempts per day originating from mainland China throughout 2025, an increase of about six percent compared to the previous year.

"Reported by ANTARA from Kyodo-OANA, the attack mainly targeted vital infrastructure," said a report by the Taiwan Security Bureau released last weekend.

The report said the energy sector, emergency rescue services, and hospitals experienced the most significant spike in attacks.

The trend is seen as reflecting a deliberate effort to undermine Taiwan's critical infrastructure and disrupt, even paralyze, the island's government functions and social life.

The Security Bureau explained that cyber attacks are often carried out in conjunction with political and military pressure.

Hacking activity from mainland China has been on the rise when Taiwan holds important ceremonies, issues major policy statements or when senior officials make overseas visits.

The peak of the attack occurred in May 2025, coinciding with the one-year anniversary of the inauguration of Taiwan President Lai Ching-te.

The next spike was detected in November, when Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim made a visit to Europe, the report said.

Chinese authorities have previously denounced Lai and Hsiao as separatist figures.

Beijing views self-ruled Taiwan as part of China's territory and has repeatedly said it is determined to bring it back under its control, including by force if necessary.

Last week, the Chinese military held large-scale exercises around Taiwan that it described as a "stern warning" against separatist and foreign interference.

The Taiwanese government stated that the military exercise was also accompanied by a disinformation campaign.

Chinese state-run media aired footage it claimed was video of drones around Taipei 101, an iconic skyscraper in central Taipei.

However, Taiwan's Defense Ministry dismissed the video as part of "cognitive warfare tactics".

At the same time, online rumors also circulated that Taiwan Defense Minister Wellington Koo was on leave during the Chinese military exercise, a claim also denied by local authorities.