Taipei, Feb. 19 (CNA) The Republic of China needs to guard against the possible use of "information warfare" by mainland China, researchers at a think tank warned during a seminar on Saturday.
Taiwan Research Institute (TRI) convened the one-day seminar on the topic of mainland China's information warfare research and development and its effect on Taiwan at the Taipei International Convention Center. The seminar was presided over by Lin Bih-jaw, deputy secretary general to President Lee Teng-hui.
TRI researchers noted that Beijing has been dedicated to the research and development of its information warfare capabilities in recent years, adding that its progress in this field has greatly upgraded mainland China's combat capabilities.
The researchers said information warfare, which causes minimum personal casualties, is less costly, and can be utilized rapidly for a quick strike, is ideal to Beijing's notion of "unification (with Taiwan) first and rule (the island) later."
They said that Beijing, which has been able to obtain high-tech nuclear weapons, intercontinental missiles, and artificial satellites, could also acquire information technology and therefore pose a more serious threat to Taiwan's security.
They said that Beijing, based on the principle of taking Taiwan in a single strike, could employ its advanced information technology edge to intercept Taiwan's strategic information and interfere with its weaponry and warfare systems.
Beijing could also bring Taipei to its knees by sabotaging non-military systems, such as its telecommunications networks, and its financial, electrical and traffic systems.
Beijing could also launch a disinformation campaign to create social disturbances and demoralize the local population in order to create a pretext for invading Taiwan, the researchers warned.
Speaking on the sidelines of the seminar, a ranking official in charge of Taiwan's mainland policy said that Beijing's development of mid-range and long-range missiles will pose a serious threat to Taiwan.
Lin Chong-pin, vice chairman of the cabinet-level Mainland Affairs Council, revealed that Beijing has already deployed short-range missiles with a range of 600 kilometers and has developed its mid-range "Hongniao 2" cruise missiles.
Lin said that the eventual deployment of the mid-range missiles will mean that Beijing is in a position to invade Taiwan by force.
He said that Beijing is now developing a long-range "Hongniao 3" cruise missile, with a range of 2,500 kilometers, similar to the United States' tomahawk cruise missile.
If Beijing gains the know-how for launching its long-range missiles from its submarines, then this will mean that its capability of invading Taiwan has matured, he added.
On the same occasion, Vice Secretary General Lin urged Beijing not to interfere in Taiwan's presidential election scheduled for March 18 less it incur the aversion and antagonism of the local population.
He predicted that Beijing would not launch large-scale military exercises this time like it did during the last presidential election in 1996.
Lin said that he hopes Beijing has "learned a lesson" from its missile exercises in waters near Taiwan in 1996, when it aimed to influence the outcome of the presidential election but instead contributed to the overwhelming victory of President Lee Teng-hui of the ruling Kuomintang. (By Lilian Wu)
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