China’s national security ministry announced on Monday that a Taiwan-based hacking group, known as Anonymous 64, is allegedly conducting cyberattacks against targets in China. The ministry urged citizens to remain vigilant and report any instances of “anti-propaganda sabotage.”
In response, Taiwan’s defense ministry firmly denied these accusations, asserting that it is China that poses a threat to peace through its cyber operations and military intimidation.
According to China’s national security ministry, Anonymous 64 is linked to Taiwan’s cyber warfare unit and has been attempting to disseminate content that undermines the mainland’s political system and policies. The group reportedly targeted various platforms, including websites, outdoor screens, and network television stations, as stated in a recent blog post by the ministry.
Taiwan frequently accuses Chinese entities of spreading misinformation and executing cyberattacks on the self-governing island, which China claims as its own. Over the past five years, Beijing has intensified military and political pressure to assert its claims over Taiwan.
The Information, Communications and Electronic Force Command of Taiwan’s defense ministry dismissed China’s claims as baseless. “The current enemy situation and cyber threats are severe,” the statement read, highlighting that the Chinese military continues to use aircraft, naval forces, and cyber tactics to harass Taiwan, portraying them as the real disruptors of regional stability.
Taiwan’s government has consistently rejected Beijing’s sovereignty assertions.
Anonymous 64, which reportedly launched its X account in June 2023, has shared content likening Chinese President Xi Jinping to an emperor. Their activities coincided with the second anniversary of protests against Beijing’s stringent COVID-19 measures and the commemoration of the 1989 Tiananmen Square demonstrations. One video featured an Anonymous 64 member donning the iconic Guy Fawkes mask associated with the V for Vendetta narrative.
Neither the group’s X account nor China’s blog post provided clarity on whether Anonymous 64 has any ties to international hacking organizations. As of now, Reuters has been unable to verify the group’s operational base or the legitimacy of the alleged cyberattacks.
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