China has intensified its cyber warfare rhetoric by offering cash rewards for the arrest of individuals it claims are part of Taiwan’s military-linked hacker units. The move follows a series of accusations and denials exchanged between Beijing and Taipei over alleged cyberattacks, deepening geopolitical and information warfare divides in the Asia-Pacific region.
Beijing Names and Shames: 20 Alleged Hackers, Rewards Offered
Authorities in southern China have sparked international concern by publicly naming 20 individuals they claim are part of Taiwan’s military cyber division and offering rewards of 10,000 yuan (approximately $1,392) for their capture. The move, announced by the Public Security Bureau of Guangzhou, was accompanied by the publication of photos, names, and Taiwan identity card numbers of the alleged hackers.
Beijing alleges that these individuals belong to Taiwan’s Information, Communications, and Electronic Force Command and were involved in organizing cyberattacks targeting sensitive sectors such as military, energy, transportation, and science & technology within mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau. State media painted the campaign as part of a broader effort to “protect national security,” despite growing concerns about the use of cyber scapegoating and political retaliation.
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Taipei Pushes Back: Accusations Called Fabricated and Politically Motivated
In response, Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense and Information and Communications departments have strongly denied the charges. Officials claimed that China fabricated a false narrative to shift attention away from its own extensive and well-documented cyber activities. Taiwan insists it does not engage in “corporate cyberattacks,” calling the move an intimidation tactic aimed at its population and democratic institutions.
A senior Taiwanese official, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity, accused Beijing of “weaponizing cybersecurity claims” to discredit Taiwan and distract from ongoing international scrutiny over China’s alleged global hacking operations—including those under investigation by European Union and U.S. authorities.
Statements from Western powers, including the U.S., European Union, and the Czech Republic, have condemned Chinese state-sponsored hacking campaigns, describing China as not just a regional disruptor but a “global internet threat.”
Cyber Cold War: Proxy Clashes and Escalating Tech Tensions
China’s latest bounty offer marks a sharp escalation in the cyber cold war brewing in the Asia-Pacific. Xinhua, China’s state-run news agency, cited intelligence reports accusing Taiwan’s “digital army” of collaborating with U.S. agencies specifically the CIA and NSA—to undermine Chinese stability by instigating “cognitive warfare” and spreading disinformation.
Analysts note that China’s reward scheme reflects a broader trend: the criminalization of cyber dissent, where states label cross-border hacking as acts of war or political insurrection. With the release of personal details of the accused, Beijing risks setting a precedent that could endanger individuals abroad and raise the stakes for cybersecurity whistleblowers, journalists, and technologists.
Taiwan, meanwhile, has framed its cyber capabilities as defensive in nature, emphasizing transparency and cooperation with international norms. It accuses China of coercive tactics, including cyber espionage, disinformation campaigns, and judicial overreach part of a larger hybrid warfare strategy to erode Taiwan’s sovereignty from within.