Taiwan US-Backed Cyber Unit: Taiwan is preparing to strengthen its military cyber defences with a new team that will look for hackers hiding inside military networks. The plan is part of a wider effort to improve Taiwan’s ability to deal with cyber threats from China.
The Information, Communications and Electronic Force Command has put aside NT$95.93 million, around US$3.03 million, in its proposed 2027 budget for the new programme. The money would be used to create the threat-hunting team and bring foreign experts and instructors to Taiwan for advanced training. The budget still needs approval from Taiwan’s legislature.
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New Team will Search for Hidden Hackers
The main idea behind the programme is called “proactive cyber threat hunting”. Instead of only waiting for an attack and then trying to fix the damage, Taiwan’s military wants its cyber teams to actively search for hackers that may already be inside its systems.
The new personnel would look through military networks and important infrastructure during peacetime. They’d try to find signs of hidden attackers, secret access routes and other ways an enemy could stay inside a system without being noticed.
According to reports from Taiwan, the team would be trained to work almost like investigators. It would search for clues that could reveal an intruder before that hacker gets the chance to cause serious damage.
The goal is to find and remove these hidden threats before a larger cyberattack starts. The programme is also expected to help Taiwan bring its cyber defence work closer to international standards.
US Expertise Expected to Play Bigger Role
Taiwan’s defence ministry hasn’t publicly said which countries will provide the foreign instructors. Local media reports say most of the experts are expected to come from the United States. The training could include exercises similar to the US military’s Cyber Flag drills. These exercises are designed to give cyber teams realistic practice against an attacking side.
The new plan comes while military cooperation between Taipei and Washington is growing. The relationship now involves more than just weapons sales. US military personnel, civilian defence officials and contractors are increasingly involved in advising, training and observing Taiwan’s forces.
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Taiwan’s Information, Communications and Electronic Force Command is a separate military branch that handles several digital and communications duties. Its work includes cyber operations, electronic warfare, military communications and protecting critical infrastructure.
Taiwan’s Defence Push
The cyber plan comes during a wider increase in Taiwan’s defence spending and military preparations. Taiwan’s proposed 2027 defence budget is NT$1.1225 trillion, equal to about US$35.3 billion or 3.01% of GDP. Taipei has also been working on stronger communications, drones and other systems designed to keep operating during a conflict.
