ArrowArtboardCreated with Sketch.Title ChevronTitle ChevronIcon FacebookIcon LinkedinIcon Mail ContactPath LayerIcon MailPositive ArrowIcon Print
U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan on Aug. 2-3 resulted in more than 270 cases of misinformation attacks -- likely from China, according to Taiwan's National Defense Ministry.   © Nikkei montage/Source photos by Reuters, Getty Images
Asia Insight

Cyber warfare: China attacks force Taiwan to bolster defenses

Power plants, hospitals and other essential facilities seen as possible targets

THOMPSON CHAU, Contributing writer, and CHENG TING-FANG, Nikkei staff writer | Taiwan

TAIPEI -- In the wake of heightened Chinese aggression, Taiwan is beefing up its military capabilities, including raising defense spending by 15% next year. But pressure is also growing on Taiwan to build resilience to another kind of warfare that could wreak devastating damage -- cyberattacks.

The government and companies were targets of such attacks in connection with the controversial visit of U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi at the beginning of August. Customers in 7-Eleven stores saw bulletin messages reading "Warmonger Pelosi, get out of Taiwan." And electronic billboards were hijacked across Taiwan -- one calling her an "old witch" whose visit is a "serious provocation to the sovereignty of the motherland."

Sponsored Content

About Sponsored Content This content was commissioned by Nikkei's Global Business Bureau.

Discover the all new Nikkei Asia app

  • Take your reading anywhere with offline reading functions
  • Never miss a story with breaking news alerts
  • Customize your reading experience

Nikkei Asian Review, now known as Nikkei Asia, will be the voice of the Asian Century.

Celebrate our next chapter
Free access for everyone - Sep. 30

Find out more