To help Taiwan counter cyber threats from China, U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) recently proposed a bipartisan bill that would require the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to expand cybersecurity cooperation with Taiwan.
“With increasing aggressiveness by the People’s Republic of China toward Taiwan, this legislation will help deter and, if necessary, defeat an attack by the PRC on Taiwan,” Sen. Rounds said. “Strengthening Taiwan’s military cyber capabilities is one of multiple measures needed to build Taiwan into a well-armed porcupine.”
The Taiwan Cybersecurity Resiliency Act of 2023, S. 1241, which Sen. Rounds cosponsored on April 20 alongside bill sponsor U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV), would authorize the DOD Secretary to conduct cybersecurity training exercises with Taiwan and to defend the country’s military networks, infrastructure and systems, according to a bill summary provided by the senators.
Additionally, S. 1241 would leverage U.S. cybersecurity technologies to help defend Taiwan and would aim to end ongoing malicious cyber activity targeting Taiwan, the summary says.
“Taiwan’s security is vital to our own national security,” said Sen. Rounds. “Additionally, Taiwan is a robust democracy and market economy whose people share our values. I am pleased to work with Sen. Rosen on legislation aimed at bolstering the defenses of a vital security partner of the United States.”
Companion legislation was introduced by U.S. Reps. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) and Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), according to the summary.
“I’m introducing this bipartisan legislation to help strengthen U.S. and Taiwan defenses by expanding cybersecurity cooperation between our two nations,” said Sen. Rosen. “As a former computer programmer, I know that by collaborating with key democratic partners like Taiwan, we can more effectively counter cyberthreats from China at home and help defend our partners around the world.”