Taiwan on guard for cyberwar

[William Knowles <wk () C4I ORG>]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/asia-pacific/newsid_965000/965344.stm

Tuesday, 10 October, 2000, 11:39 GMT 12:39 UK

As Taiwan celebrates its National Day on Tuesday, website operators on
the island have been warned to prepare for a resumption of a
cross-Straits cyberwar with China.

The warning follows speculation that hackers in mainland China may be
preparing to bombard Taiwanese sites with anti-independence messages.

Major government websites and those belonging to associates of
President Chen Shui-bien - who Beijing sees as a supporter of
Taiwanese independence - are thought to be among the principal
targets.

China views Taiwan as a renegade province and has repeatedly said it
will use force to prevent the island declaring itself independent from
the mainland.

Tuesday's national day, known as the 'double tenth', is the first to
be celebrated since this year's landmark general elections which saw
an end to five decades of rule by the Kuomintang nationalist party.

Earlier this year, several government sites were vandalised by
mainland hackers following President Chen's inauguration on 20 May.

Flag waving

In retaliation, Taiwanese hackers returned fire at the mainland,
plastering the homepage of China's railway ministry with pictures of
the Taiwanese flag and the Taiwanese national anthem.

However, this time Taiwanese authorities say they have learnt the
lessons of previous attacks and are now on a constant state of alert
for signs of interference.

"We have done everything necessary to be prepared," said Tsai Ing-wen,
chairwoman of the island's Mainland Affairs Council.

"The factors have been taken into consideration when we implemented
national security measures,'' she said.

In August last year, hackers on both sides of the Taiwanese Straits
engaged each other in a fierce cyberwar after the then Taiwan
President, Lee Teng-hui, suggested Taiwan's relationship with Beijing
be conducted on "state-to-state" lines.

The statement incensed China, which saw it as a claim for independent
status.

One message posted by irate Chinese hackers on Taiwanese government
sites read: "Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory and
will always be. The Taiwan Government headed by President Lee cannot
deny it. Only one China exists and only one China is needed.''


*==============================================================*
"Communications without intelligence is noise;  Intelligence
without communications is irrelevant." Gen Alfred. M. Gray, USMC
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