Tag: taiwan
86 articles
China's Military Expands, Encircles Japan
Japan's security landscape has been forever altered after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's comments on Taiwan sparked a furious reaction from China, escalating military tensions and encircling the island nation. The diplomatic fallout has significant implications for Tokyo's strategic calculations.
US Defense Chief Misses Chance to Bolster Taiwan Support
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth's recent speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore left many wondering why he didn't seize the opportunity to reaffirm US support for Taiwan, a crucial moment to make a strong statement in the region. By choosing not to directly address Taiwan, Hegseth missed a chance to show strength and clarity in the face of growing uncertainty.
Taiwan's Frontline Experience Fortifies Australia's Undersea Defenses
As Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles warned, the seabed is rapidly becoming a battlefield, posing a stark threat to Australia's undersea defenses, with a whopping 99 percent of the country's internet traffic relying on just 15 vulnerable subsea cables. This alarming exposure puts everything from financial services to healthcare and communications at risk of disruption.
China-Aligned Hackers Target Czech Republic, Taiwan in Cyber Espionage Push
China-aligned hackers have launched a sneaky cyber espionage campaign, dubbed Operation Dragon Weave, targeting officials and citizens in the Czech Republic and Taiwan with a cunning malware that masquerades as a legitimate cloud storage service. The malware ultimately delivers an AdaptixC2 agent, putting sensitive information at risk.
China Shifts Military Pressure Beyond Taiwan Strait
China ramped up its military presence around Taiwan in May, conducting four intense joint combat readiness patrols that signaled a significant increase in operational pressure. This unusual surge in activity was marked by sorties on May 1, 6, 19, and 25, keeping Taiwan on high alert.
Japan Weighs Taiwan Security Ties Amid Defense Export Reforms
Taiwan's navy is in urgent need of an upgrade, with 15 of its 25 major surface combatants over 25 years old, and some vessels even pushing 50 years of service. The Taiwanese navy is now eyeing Japan's cutting-edge Mogami-class frigate as a potential game-changer for its next-generation surface combatant plans.
Taiwan's Military Grapples with Legacy Weapons' Declining Utility
Taiwan's latest shipment of 28 M1A2 Abrams tanks marks a bittersweet milestone, as the island nation grapples with the limitations of its legacy armour in an era dominated by cheap, autonomous strike weapons. The cutting-edge tanks, weighing 74 tons and costing $1.3 billion, now sit alongside a fleet of outdated systems that are rapidly becoming obsolete.
Taiwan's Drone Ambitions Hit as Defense Budget Cut Stalls Unmanned Buildup
Taiwan's plans to boost its drone capabilities have hit a roadblock after a significant cut to its defense budget, with zero new domestically produced drones set to be procured in 2026. The budget slash, resulting from a Legislative Yuan vote, has stalled the island's ambitious unmanned buildup.
US-China Summit Exposes Fault Lines on Security, Trade
The US-China summit is set to tackle thorny issues like Taiwan, trade, and security, with tensions running high on all fronts. Expect a delicate dance on sensitive topics, including arms sales, official contact with Taiwan, and export controls on critical technologies.
Taiwan's Security Under Threat as US Weighs Trade Deals with China
As China presses its demands at the Trump-Xi summit, Taiwan's security hangs in the balance, threatened by Beijing's insistence on absorption into its system. With 23 million citizens enjoying a vibrant democracy, Taiwan stands as a model ally, boasting free elections, an independent judiciary, and a thriving civil society that starkly contrasts China's governance.
US Arms Sales Bills Advance, Taiwan Support Gains Momentum
The House Foreign Affairs Committee just shot down a bill that would have streamlined US arms sales, with Democrats warning that the Trump administration can't be trusted with billions more dollars in taxpayer funds without a solid plan in place. The surprise 23-23 tie vote dealt a blow to efforts to simplify the foreign military financing process.
Taiwan's Defense Budget Cuts Imperil Porcupine Strategy
Taiwan's defence capabilities are in jeopardy after lawmakers approved a slashed defence budget of $25 billion, down from President Lai's proposed $40 billion, with the reduced funds leaving the island's Porcupine Strategy vulnerable. This cut comes as a significant blow, with a senior research fellow warning it weakens Taiwan's defence capabilities.
Taiwan's Parliament Approves $25 Billion Defense Budget Amid China Tensions
Taiwan's legislature has approved a $25 billion defense budget, a crucial move that comes amid rising tensions with China, with 59 lawmakers voting in favor of the bill despite deep partisan divisions. The approved budget, although smaller than initially proposed, marks a significant step in bolstering Taiwan's defenses.
Taiwan Railway Hack Exposes Vulnerabilities in TETRA System
A clever 23-year-old hacker brought Taiwan's high-speed rail to a standstill for 48 minutes by exploiting a shocking weakness in the TETRA system, used to coordinate critical communications. Using just a few pieces of easily-bought equipment, the attacker sent a fake "General Alarm" signal that was treated as the real deal.
US, Allies Conduct Live-Fire Drill to Repel Amphibious Assault
Witness the future of military might: in a stunning display of modern warfare, US, Filipino, and Japanese forces joined forces for a heart-pumping live-fire drill to repel an amphibious assault at La Paz Sand Dunes. Rockets, drones, and advanced tech took center stage in this cutting-edge exercise, showcasing the power of joint forces in the Pacific.
Japan Confronts Limits of Fact-Checking in Countering Chinese Disinformation
When China's foreign minister declared Taiwan an inalienable part of China's territory, his words went viral - spreading like wildfire across state media, diplomatic dispatches, and online campaigns. Since Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi took a firmer stance on Taiwan, Beijing has stepped up its disinformation game, distorting her words and making bold claims about Okinawa.
Japan Rearms, But Taiwan's Defense Remains Uncertain
As Japan bolsters its defenses, concerns linger about Taiwan's uncertain future - and it's easy to see why, given their precarious locations in a volatile neighbourhood. With its recent fleet expansions, Japan is clearly taking steps to protect itself, but what about its vulnerable neighbour?
Tropic Trooper Exploits SumatraPDF to Deploy AdaptixC2
Meet Tropic Trooper, a notorious cyber threat group that's been wreaking havoc since 2011, and learn how they've cleverly exploited SumatraPDF to deploy their AdaptixC2 malware. Their latest tactic involves using GitHub as a command-and-control platform to target Chinese-speaking individuals in Taiwan, as well as users in South Korea and Japan.
LucidRook Malware Targets NGOs, Universities in Taiwan
A sneaky new malware called LucidRook has set its sights on non-governmental organizations and universities in Taiwan, using spear-phishing to catch its victims off guard. This Lua-based threat is the latest cyber attacker to target these vulnerable sectors.
UAT-10362 Launches LucidRook Malware in Taiwanese NGO Spear-Phishing Attacks
A mysterious threat cluster, UAT-10362, has launched a targeted spear-phishing attack on Taiwanese NGOs and universities, deploying a newly discovered malware called LucidRook. This sophisticated attack raises urgent concerns for Taiwanese civil-society groups, highlighting the need for heightened vigilance and robust defenses.
China Consolidates Taiwan Ties with KMT Encounters
When former foes start swapping secrets for public handshakes, the real question is: what's changed now that everyone can see the table? China's Communist Party and Taiwan's Kuomintang are meeting more frequently and openly, sparking curiosity about the impact of these visible encounters on their complex relationship.
Taiwan's Fate Holds Strategic Lessons for Australia
What if the way Australians think about Taiwan is too narrow, overlooking crucial implications for their own country's future? By viewing Taiwan as just a distant sovereignty dispute or a potential US-China flashpoint, Australians may be missing the bigger picture – and the strategic lessons that Taiwan's fate can teach.
Taiwanese web hosting Exclusive: Critical Espionage Risk
Imagine an invisible enemy living inside the servers that power your websites and email — Cisco Talos found a Chinese‑linked APT using a Taiwanese web host to intercept traffic, harvest credentials and stage persistent espionage. This supply‑chain breach is a wake‑up call: treat hosts as critical infrastructure and demand stronger controls, logging and incident guarantees now.
Taiwanese web host Critical: Exclusive Must-Have Fixes
A suspected Chinese state-backed crew quietly breached a Taiwanese web host, stealing credentials and planting backdoors to maintain months-long access — a stark reminder that compromising one trusted provider can expose dozens of downstream victims. Strengthening access controls, adopting zero-trust segmentation, and rotating credentials aren’t optional — they’re the best way to stop a single breach from becoming a widespread supply-chain disaster.