China holds Taiwan responsible for cyber attacks, Taipei denies blame

Taiwan's government has denied accusations from China that a Taiwan-backed hacking group, Anonymous 64, is responsible for cyberattacks on Chinese targets.

Beijing's national security ministry had made the claims on Monday, alleging that the Taiwanese military was behind a series of cyber intrusions aimed at spreading "anti-propaganda" material within China.

The ministry urged Chinese citizens to report instances of what it called "sabotage."

Taiwan’s Defence Minister Wellington Koo responded by claiming that it is China, not Taiwan, that leads global cyberattacks, targeting Taiwan and other nations with democratic ideals.

"China is the foremost hacker globally, carrying out frequent attacks against Taiwan and other countries that support democracy," Koo told reporters in Taipei on Tuesday.

He claimed that China’s accusations are baseless, and Taiwan’s military will not be deterred from defending the nation.

The accusations from Beijing mark a rare instance where China has publicly accused Taiwan of hacking.

Taiwan has historically been a part of China's territory with Beijing still claiming soverinity over the islands.

China's former ruling nationalist party, known as the Kuomintang or KMT, fled to Taiwan, after being defeated by the Communists in 1949.

The KMT established the Republic of China on the territory, with the name retained by Taiwan, while also claiming sovereignty over mainland China.

Beijing’s recent accusations come amid a backdrop of increased tensions in the region.

According to China’s national security ministry, Anonymous 64, which was revealed as a part of Taiwan’s military cyber warfare unit, has been responsible for attacks on Chinese websites, outdoor screens, and television networks.

The ministry stated that the group sought to broadcast content that criticises China’s political system and its policies, including videos likening President Xi Jinping to an emperor.

The ministry further published images of three alleged members of the group, urging citizens to report any anti-China cyber activities.

In response, Taiwan’s Defence Ministry dismissed the allegations as false.

The ministry’s Information, Communications, and Electronic Force Command said, “The Chinese communist military and forces coordinating with it continue to use cyberattacks to harass Taiwan. They are the ones undermining regional peace.”

Anonymous 64 has taken responsibility for some of these actions through posts on its social media account.

One video showed a member wearing the signature Guy Fawkes mask, commonly associated with the international Anonymous hacking group, delivering an address denouncing Chinese leadership.

Taiwan’s Premier, Cho Jung-tai, also weighed in, accusing China of using fake news to smear Taiwan. “China is spreading disinformation to attack Taiwan,” Cho said, calling for a strong response to the claims.

He emphasised the importance of countering Beijing’s narrative.