Taiwan’s National Security Bureau has accused the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) of conducting military drills near the self-ruled island along with cyberattacks. The bureau reported that the CCP shared over 19,000 “controversial” messages and carried out millions of hacking intrusions. The online activity involved 799 abnormal accounts and aimed to increase skepticism regarding the US, Taiwan’s President William Lai, and the military.
The cyberintrusions intensified during the exercises, with around 2.08 million attacks on the first day of China’s military drills. This number further increased to about 2.09 million on the second day. The legislature’s Foreign Affairs and National Defence Committee has requested briefings from various government agencies in response to the reported security threats. The CCP’s military drills were allegedly conducted to counter international support for Taiwan, divert attention from internal issues, and showcase military strength.
Taiwan’s Defence Ministry reported that on December 31, 2025, 207 Chinese military planes flew around the self-ruled island during a 48-hour period. This action, occurring during China’s exercises, was seen as a warning against separatism. Of these planes, 125 crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan’s air defense identification zone. China regards Taiwan as a breakaway region that should be reunified with the mainland, even by force if necessary.
