Taiwan seeks better ties in spite of cyber attacks from China
ROC Central News Agency
2013/04/01 23:10:43
Taipei, April 1 (CNA) President Ma Ying-jeou told a British media last week that Taiwan continues to face cyber attacks from China but such attacks would not cause Taiwan to slow down its rapprochement with the mainland.
In an interview with the Financial Times at the Presidential Office on March 29, Ma said Chinese spying on Taiwan has intensified even as relations between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait have improved.
He acknowledged that closer ties with China and the resulting rise in Chinese visitors to Taiwan were "leading to higher security risks" and had resulted in "occasional incidents" of secrets being leaked.
"Such breaches of security, which have increased in number, do serve as a warning," Ma was quoted as saying, but he described the situation as "under control," according to the daily.
Over 2.5 million Chinese nationals visited Taiwan last year as part of the government's efforts to build its tourism market, but critics argue that they pose a security risk.
Asked about his views on China's cyber attacks on Taiwan, he said this was "not a new phenomenon," but stressed that Taiwan will strengthen its guard against such attacks.
William Stanton, a former U.S. de facto ambassador to Taiwan, has sounded alarm that the "success and frequency" of China's spying cases have undermined the security relationship between his country and Taiwan.
Taiwan relies on sophisticated U.S. weaponry to help defend itself against a possible military attack from China.
In spite of China's spying on Taiwan, Ma said he hoped to conclude trade and services liberalization deals with China and free trade agreements with New Zealand and Singapore this year, the British daily said.
(By Lee Shu-hua and S.C. Chang)
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
