Chinese Hackers Threaten to Wage Cyberwar on Taiwan's National Day

TAIPEI, Oct 9, 2000 -- (Agence France Presse) Chinese hackers have threatened to destroy rival Taiwan's websites as the island state prepares to celebrate national day on Tuesday, television reports said.

The Chinese hackers may hack into major government websites as well as some civil websites close to President Chen Shui-bian, the cable television TVBS said Monday.

It said the Chinese hackers, who succeeded in attacking several government websites after Chen was sworn in on May 20, may launch the attacks some time between late Monday night and Tuesday morning.

"It is believed the Chinese hackers want to embarrass Taiwan's new government," it said.

Tensions between Taipei and Beijing have escalated since Chen seized power. The mainland believes Chen harbors pro-independence ambitions.

However a top Taiwanese government official dismissed the looming threat of cyberspace warfare.

"The news has yet to be confirmed," said Tsai Ing-wen, chairwoman of the Mainland Affairs Council which formulates the island's mainland policy toward China.

"But we have done everything necessary to be prepared. The factors have been taken into consideration when we implemented national security measures," Tsai said.

Computer hackers from Taiwan and China battled it out in Internet warfare in August last year after then Taiwan president Lee Teng-hui characterized Taiwan's relationship with the mainland as "special state-to-state" ties. China was outraged by the term, which it saw as a claim for independent status.

The websites of several Taiwanese government agencies, including the Control Yuan, Pintung county government, the cabinet-level Construction and Planning and Administration, and several universities, were ruined by viruses introduced from the mainland.

The message sent by Chinese hackers read: "Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory and will always be. The Taiwan government headed by (President) Lee cannot deny it. Only one China exists and only one China is needed."

Local hackers later fought back, posting Taiwan's national flag and national anthem on the websites of China's railway ministry.

And a message proclaimed that "only one Taiwan exists and only one Taiwan is needed."

Beijing, which regards Taiwan as a breakaway province with which it will eventually reunite, has reiterated its right to use force to prevent Taiwan declaring independence. ((c) 2000 Agence France Presse)

http://www.insidechina.com/news.php3?id=207812

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), October 11, 2000