Chinese hackers target Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan (LY) with an average of 900,000 cyberattacks monthly, the Taipei Times reported, citing the legislature’s information technology (IT) department.

The Legislative Yuan, Taiwan’s highest legislative body, plays a pivotal role in exercising legislative power. The alarming figures were disclosed by Cheng Hui-pin, head of the IT department, during a review of the LY’s budget by the Judiciary and Organic Laws and Statutes Committee last Thursday. Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Chung Chia-pin raised concerns about the security and performance of the legislature’s wifi network during the session.

Chung highlighted that the network’s vulnerabilities, including frequent outages and sluggish performance, pose risks to devices storing sensitive information critical to national security. He also flagged issues with excessively loud microphones used in committee meetings, which he said disrupt proceedings and adjacent rooms.

Chung emphasized that the IT department must address these issues within three months, warning that failure to act could result in a budget suspension. In response, Cheng assured lawmakers that cybersecurity is a top priority, noting that the department routinely reviews the LY’s defenses as mandated by the Cyber Security Management Act.

After discussions between DPP and Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers, a resolution was passed requiring the IT department to address the concerns without freezing its budget. Lawmakers instructed the department to test all devices connected to the network for security and review the audio equipment. They also recommended installing soundproofing in legislative chambers.

Cheng promised a detailed report on the issues raised and reaffirmed the department’s commitment to bolstering the legislature’s cybersecurity.