Rounds, Rosen Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Counter Chinese Cyber Aggression against Taiwan

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) introduced the Taiwan Cybersecurity Resiliency Act. This bipartisan legislation would require the U.S. Department of Defense to expand cybersecurity cooperation with Taiwan to help them counter cyber threats from China. In 2019, Taiwan’s government estimated that it faced 20 to 40 million cyberattacks every month from China, some of which were later used against the United States.

“Taiwan’s security is vital to our own national security,” said Rounds. “Additionally, Taiwan is a robust democracy and market economy whose people share our values. 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. Strengthening Taiwan’s military cyber capabilities is one of multiple measures needed to build Taiwan into a well-armed porcupine. I am pleased to work with Senator Rosen on legislation aimed at bolstering the defenses of a vital security partner of the United States.”

“We must push back on the Chinese Communist Party’s growing aggression, and its attempts to undermine democracy around the world — including through hostile cyber actions,” said Rosen. “All too often, we’ve seen Taiwan used as a testing ground for China’s cyberattacks later used against the United States. I’m introducing this bipartisan legislation to help strengthen U.S. and Taiwan defenses by expanding cybersecurity cooperation between our two nations. 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.”

Companion legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives by Representatives Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) and Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.).

The bipartisan and bicameral Taiwan Cybersecurity Resiliency Act of 2023 would authorize the Secretary of Defense to:

• Conduct cybersecurity training exercises with Taiwan.
• Defend the country’s military networks, infrastructure and systems.
• Leverage U.S. cybersecurity technologies to help defend Taiwan.
• Eradicate ongoing malicious cyber activity targeting Taiwan.

###