In a fresh escalation of tensions between China and Taiwan, Beijing has accused a group of hackers allegedly backed by Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) of launching a sustained cyberattack campaign targeting Chinese websites. The accusation arrives as China ramps up its military and “grey zone” activities against Taiwan, which it has vowed to annex, even by force if necessary.
China’s Allegations and the Role of Taiwanese Hackers
China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS), its top intelligence and security agency, made the allegations public via an official blog post on its public WeChat account on September 23. The post accuses a hacking group known as “Anonymous64,” which China claims is backed by the Taiwanese government and Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND), of conducting a broad array of cyberattacks.
According to the MSS, Anonymous64 is a “cyber army raised by the ‘Taiwan independence’ forces.” The group is linked to the Information, Communications, and Electronic Force Command (ICEFCOM), a division of the MND in Taipei. Beijing alleges that ICEFCOM has been leading “online battles” against the mainland by launching ideologically driven cyberattacks and orchestrating public opinion campaigns. These activities allegedly seek to undermine China’s political system and sow discord within its population.
The accusations are part of a broader narrative that China has constructed, portraying Taiwan as a key player in cyber operations aimed at destabilizing the mainland. The Ministry claims that the hacking group has infiltrated websites in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau with the intent to “defame” China’s political system.
Anonymous64 and Alleged Cyber Operations
China has painted a detailed picture of Anonymous64’s operations, stating that the group has been active since early 2024. The blog post highlights that the hackers have been uploading and broadcasting content critical of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) across several platforms, including websites, outdoor advertising screens, and network TV stations. The content allegedly denigrates mainland China’s political system and questions its major policies.
The MSS also linked the group’s cyber activities to a series of posts and screenshots from an X (formerly Twitter) account allegedly run by Anonymous64. The account, created on June 4, 2023—significantly, the anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown—has over 2,700 followers and has posted 72 times as of September 23. Many of the posts criticize China’s handling of the 1989 pro-democracy movement, among other political issues.
In one of its more recent posts, the group claimed responsibility for hacking mainland Chinese websites, including hotels, educational institutions, and defense-related organizations. Anonymous64 also asserted that it had compromised public screens in various locations to display anti-CCP messages.
A Longstanding Campaign? China’s Broader Allegations
China’s latest claims extend beyond these recent actions. Beijing alleges that Taiwan has been supporting Anonymous64 and similar cyber groups since at least 2017. According to the MSS blog, ICEFCOM has focused its efforts on infiltrating key mainland sectors such as defense, aerospace, and energy infrastructure, attempting to steal sensitive data and gather intelligence for the Taiwanese government.
The blog also claims that Taiwan has been deliberately manipulating public opinion in China by spreading disinformation to create the impression that China’s cybersecurity measures are weak and vulnerable. The MSS accuses ICEFCOM of “frequently distorting online public opinion” and “amplifying contradictions and instigating confrontation.”
As part of its revelations, the MSS published names and images of three ICEFCOM personnel, accusing them of orchestrating the attacks. The ministry also issued a stern warning that echoed a directive from Beijing in June, which stipulated that “Taiwan independence” separatists could face the death penalty in cases of extreme secession that were deemed to “seriously endanger the country and its people.”
Taiwan’s Response
Taiwan’s government has strongly refuted the allegations, with ICEFCOM issuing a statement dismissing the accusations as baseless. ICEFCOM clarified that its mandate is to “carry out tasks such as providing defense information and maintaining cybersecurity,” emphasizing that it does not engage in the kind of cyber sabotage that China accuses it of.
ICEFCOM also reiterated Taiwan’s stance that it is frequently the victim of Chinese cyberattacks. “The current enemy situation and cyber threats are severe,” the command stated, adding that Chinese forces “continue to use aircraft, ships, and cyberattacks to harass Taiwan” and are the primary source of regional instability.
Escalating Tensions and Military Aid from the U.S.
China’s cyber accusations against Taiwan come at a time of escalating tensions in the Taiwan Strait. In recent months, China has ramped up its military exercises and activities near the island, including rehearsing amphibious landings and blockades aimed at intimidating Taiwanese forces. Beijing views Taiwan as a renegade province and has repeatedly vowed to reunify it with the mainland, by force if necessary.
At the same time, Taiwan has increasingly relied on its ally, the United States, for military and strategic support. Washington, which maintains an unofficial relationship with Taiwan under its “One China” policy, has become a critical player in arming the island for potential conflict.
In a significant development, the United States is preparing to send Taiwan its largest-ever military aid package, a move likely to inflame tensions with China even further. According to several U.S. officials and congressional aides, the Pentagon has authorized a $567 million military aid package for Taiwan, which includes air defense systems, drones, anti-armor weaponry, and additional military stocks. The Biden administration aims to deliver this aid swiftly, with the package expected to be finalized by the end of the current fiscal year.
This new package is almost double the size of the $345 million aid provided last year, underscoring the U.S.’s growing commitment to bolstering Taiwan’s defense capabilities. The assistance is designed to enhance Taiwan’s “asymmetric” defense strategy, which focuses on leveraging advanced technologies like drones and air defense to counter China’s overwhelming military advantage.
While Washington does not officially recognize Taiwan as a sovereign state, the U.S. has a long history of providing arms and training to Taiwanese forces. This support has only increased in recent years as fears of a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan grow. Several U.S. military officials have warned that such an invasion could occur as early as 2027, urging both Washington and Taipei to prepare accordingly.
China’s Reaction to U.S. Military Support for Taiwan
China has been vocal in its opposition to U.S. military aid to Taiwan. Beijing views Washington’s actions as undermining its sovereignty and stoking separatist sentiment within Taiwan. Earlier this month, a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticized U.S. military assistance, accusing the U.S. of turning Taiwan into a “powder-keg nation” and sending a dangerous message to pro-independence forces on the island.
Beijing has consistently warned that U.S. involvement in Taiwan could destabilize the region and has called for Washington to cease arms sales to the island. However, these warnings have done little to deter the U.S., which continues to deepen its military ties with Taiwan amid growing concerns over China’s ambitions.
The allegations of Taiwanese-backed cyberattacks mark another flashpoint in the already fraught relationship between China and Taiwan. As China intensifies its military posturing and cyber accusations, Taiwan remains adamant that it is the victim of Chinese aggression—both in cyberspace and in the air and sea surrounding the island.
With the United States poised to send a record-breaking military aid package to Taiwan, tensions are likely to escalate further. The Taiwan Strait remains one of the most volatile regions in the world, and the latest developments suggest that both sides are preparing for an extended period of conflict, whether through cyber warfare, military exercises, or diplomatic maneuvering.
As the geopolitical chessboard in the Indo-Pacific continues to shift, the stakes for Taiwan, China, and the broader region could not be higher.
