Gonzales sponsors bipartisan bill to enhance U.S.-Taiwan cybersecurity efforts

U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) on Feb. 21 sponsored a bipartisan bill that would allow for coordinated research activities between the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Taiwan to bolster cyber preparedness and enhance cybersecurity capabilities.

“With Taiwan being one of America’s strongest partners abroad, I am proud to spearhead this effort in Congress,” Rep. Gonzales said on Friday.

Specifically, the United States-Taiwan Advanced Research Partnership Act of 2023, H.R. 1127, which is cosponsored by U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ), would allow the DHS Under Secretary for Science and Technology, in coordination with the U.S. State Department, to enter into cooperative cybersecurity research programs with Taiwan through the Science and Technology Directorate’s International Cooperation Programs Office, according to the text of the bill.

“As the number of cyberattacks against the U.S. and our allies increase, so does the need for cybersecurity,” said Rep. Gonzales. “This bill would strengthen both Taiwanese and U.S. homeland security through bilateral information sharing on incurred cyber incidents while also facilitating joint initiatives to bolster cybersecurity.”

Taiwan sustained 1.4 billion cyberattacks between September 2019 and August 2020 that targeted the country’s political, economic, and military entities in attempts to steal or destroy data, according to the 2023 National Institute for Defense Studies’ China Security Report, which the lawmakers cited in their Feb. 24 statement. 

“Cyber threats from China increasingly require international collaboration with our allies,” said Rep. Sherrill. “I am proud to work with Congressman Gonzales to enhance our cyber resilience in partnership with Taiwan in order to advance our mutual economic and national security.”

Rep. Gonzales recently visited Taiwan with a congressional delegation, according to his staff.