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Taiwan hopes to join planned U.S. cyber security exercises

ROC Central News Agency

2013/02/22 18:55:35

Washington, Feb. 21 (CNA) Taiwan has stepped up cyber security cooperation with the United States and intends to take part in planned U.S. cyber security exercises, a senior Taiwanese official stationed in Washington, D.C. said Thursday.

'Cyber security cooperation is an important part of Taiwan-U.S. relations,' said Leo Lee, Taiwan's deputy representative to the U.S., adding that this cooperation includes information exchanges and assistance in manpower training.

'Joint training exercises are also good for cooperation and we look forward to taking part in such drills being planned by the U.S. authorities,' Lee said.

However, he went on, the two sides have yet to formally talk about cooperation in this area.

King Pu-tsung, Taiwan's top representative to the U.S., had lunch with senior officials of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security earlier that day, and cyber security was one of the issues discussed.

The U.S. government is working to toughen its cyber security measures after computer systems at major public institutions and business corporations have reportedly fallen victim to an unprecedented rash of cyber attacks from China-based hackers.

The White House has listed the war against cyber attacks on major U.S. government institutions and large conglomerates as one of its priorities.

The Department of State, the U.S. Trade Representative Office and the Department of Commerce have all begun to draft measures and administrative strategies to minimize the risks of business secrets or classified information being stolen by hackers.

Washington-based scholars and security experts have described China-originating cyber attacks against major institutions in the U.S. capital as rampant and ubiquitous, with the targets ranging from law firms, think tanks and media outlets to human rights groups, congressional offices and government agencies.

Lee said the Taipei Economic and cultural Representative Office in the United States pays a great deal of attention to cyber security because Taiwan has also been a primary target of China's cyber attacks.

According to Lee, each staff member at the representative office has two computers, one of which is used for Internet searches while the other has a physical isolation switch that disconnects it from the Internet.

The arrangement is aimed at preventing any leakage of documented information, Lee noted.

Moreover, he said, Taiwan's security agencies regularly send personnel to the country's overseas offices to inspect their cyber security measures and facilities.

'We spare no efforts to ensure cyber security,' Lee added.

(By Lin Shu-yuan and Sofia Wu)
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