Chinese Cyberattacks on Taiwan Hit 2.6M Daily in 2025

Chinese-linked cyberattacks targeting Taiwan’s critical infrastructure surged sharply in 2025, averaging about 2.6 million attempts per day, according to a new report released by Taiwan’s National Security Bureau, highlighting the growing role of cyber operations in cross-strait tensions.

The bureau said the attacks, which rose around 6% from 2024 and more than doubled compared with 2023, were primarily aimed at sectors considered vital to public safety and economic stability, including energy, healthcare, telecommunications, transportation, and financial services. Officials described the campaign as increasingly systematic, persistent, and closely aligned with periods of heightened political or military pressure.

Taiwanese authorities said the cyber activity reflected what they view as a broader strategy of “grey-zone” pressure, combining digital intrusion, disinformation, and military signalling to strain Taiwan’s governance and resilience without crossing the threshold of open conflict. The report noted that spikes in cyberattacks frequently coincided with Chinese military drills and joint combat readiness patrols conducted around the island during the year.

Among the most affected sectors, energy systems experienced the sharpest rise, with attempted intrusions increasing nearly tenfold from the previous year. Emergency response networks and hospitals also recorded substantial increases, raising concerns about potential disruption to essential services. Financial institutions and government agencies were repeatedly targeted, according to the bureau.

The report said attackers employed a mix of techniques, including distributed denial-of-service attacks, attempts to exploit software vulnerabilities, and efforts to intercept communications or harvest sensitive data. Taiwanese officials believe some campaigns were designed to gather intelligence on government operations and critical supply chains, including areas linked to advanced manufacturing and semiconductors.

China routinely denies conducting cyberattacks against Taiwan, rejecting accusations as politically motivated. Beijing maintains that it opposes hacking in all forms and often counters that it, too, is a victim of cybercrime. Taiwan, however, says the scale, timing, and sophistication of the attacks point to state-linked actors and form part of a sustained pressure campaign.

The cyber offensive unfolded against a backdrop of heightened political friction in 2025, including sensitive anniversaries, diplomatic engagements, and Taiwan’s efforts to deepen ties with international partners. The bureau said cyber operations increasingly accompanied military manoeuvres, reinforcing concerns that digital attacks are becoming an integrated element of regional coercion.

Taiwan has stepped up its cyber defences in response, expanding cooperation between government agencies and private companies while also sharing threat intelligence with foreign partners. Officials said investments in detection, incident response, and infrastructure hardening helped prevent major service outages, but warned that the sheer volume of attacks continued to stretch defensive capacity.

Cybersecurity experts say Taiwan’s experience reflects a broader global trend in which critical infrastructure has become a prime target in geopolitical competition. They warn that sustained probing of hospitals, power grids, and financial networks carries risks that extend beyond espionage, potentially causing real-world disruption if attacks escalate or coincide with other crises.

Taiwan’s government has repeatedly called on like-minded countries to strengthen international cooperation on cybersecurity, arguing that attacks on digital infrastructure pose cross-border risks. The bureau said defending against large-scale cyber campaigns would require continued investment, closer coordination with allies, and constant adaptation as attackers refine their techniques.

With daily attack volumes now running into the millions, officials cautioned that cyber pressure is likely to remain a persistent feature of cross-strait relations. “The digital front line is no longer separate from traditional security challenges,” the report said, adding that Taiwan would need to treat cybersecurity as a core element of national resilience in the years ahead.