US lawmakers move to lift arms restrictions on Taiwan amid Chinese malware campaign

US lawmakers move to lift arms restrictions on Taiwan amid Chinese malware campaign

2023-07-31

U.S. officials are searching for Chinese malware hidden inside American defense systems. According to the New York Times, China covertly planted malicious code inside networks supporting U.S. military bases. The malware has been described by one official as a “ticking time bomb.” If a conflict breaks out over Taiwan, China could use the code to slow down a U.S. military response. Amid the hunt for Chinese malware, U.S. House representatives have proposed a bill to lift arms restrictions on Taiwan.

Anchor
CNN
This sounds pretty terrifying. How concerned is the White House?

David Sanger
Journalist
Well they’re pretty concerned, Paula. And there have been a lot of meetings taking place in the Situation Room about this.

A Chinese malware campaign is raising alarms in Washington. According to the New York Times, China has hidden computer code in networks controlling the power grids, communications systems, and water supplies of military bases in the U.S. and around the world. This could allow hackers to disrupt or delay U.S. military operations in the event of a conflict, such as a Chinese attack on Taiwan.

Anchor
CNN
This also comes at a time that China has ramped up threats against Taiwan, which President Biden has vowed to defend. Obviously, not a coincidence, right?

David Sanger
Journalist
Not a coincidence, we think. We don’t know that this is entirely about Taiwan, but clearly partly about it.

Su Tzu-yun
Institute of National Defense and Security Research
It could create chaos in the physical world from the virtual realm of information. That’s the first thing. Second, it could cut off or confuse the U.S. military communications and battlefield management. Third, such results could affect the physical world, reducing the accuracy of U.S. troop reinforcement to Taiwan and firepower strikes. So many such instances of CCP hack attacks have been found.

Amid heightened Chinese aggression, Washington has stepped up efforts to protect Taiwan. Following lawmakers in the Senate, U.S. House representatives have proposed their own version of the Taiwan Peace Through Strength Act. The bill requires the U.S. to prioritize arms sales to Taiwan. It proposes amending the Taiwan Relations Act, so that weapons sold to Taiwan aren’t limited to those “of a defensive character.”

Wang Ting-yu
DPP lawmaker
It can be said that it seeks to strengthen Taiwan to promote peace. It provides for regular exercises and more weapons, including more advanced weapons, including weapons of a non-defensive nature, in order to deter China. There’s an extremely good chance that Congress will pass this bill. What’s worth observing is whether the White House signs it into law. This bill would greatly improve Taiwan’s security and stability and its relations with major allies.

The bill must be approved by all relevant committees and both the House and Senate. Then it must be signed by U.S. President Joe Biden before taking effect. But even at this stage, Washington has already made clear its mounting concern over the Taiwan Strait.