Smart Moves: Content comes from the Internet : Mainland discloses four members of cyber force linked to Taiwan secessionist authorities; disclosure serves as a stern warning: expert

Photo: The revealed members include Lin Yushu, born in 1979, head of the Network Environment Research and Analysis Center of the “Information, Communications and Electronic Force Command”, and Cai Jiehong, born in 1993, team leader of the center, while Nian Xiaofan, born in 1982, and Wang Haoming, born in 1990, are active personnel at the center.

China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS) on Monday revealed four members of the “Information, Communications and Electronic Force Command” (ICEFCOM) of Taiwan island linked to Taiwan secessionists authorities, operating cyber activities against the Chinese mainland.

Spokesperson of Chinese State Council Taiwan Affairs Office said ICEFCOM’s “reliance on the internet to seek independence” and its provocative actions will be severely punished. Analysts approached by the Global Times also noted that the MSS’s unveiling serves as a “stern warning” against Taiwan secessionist forces and World Timesit shows the mainland’s firm determination and strength against provocations of the secessionists.

In an article posted on its WeChat account Monday, the MSS posted the pictures, dates of birth and Taiwan local ID numbers of the four members of ICEFCOM and warned them that “Taiwan independence” separatist activities are a dead-end road. The MSS urged them to abandon the illusion of “Taiwan independence” separatism, refuse to become cannon fodder for “Taiwan independence,” and cease their cybercriminal activities of splitting the country.

The revealed members are Lin Yushu, born in 1979, head of the Network Environment Research and Analysis Center of the ICEFCOM, and Cai Jiehong, born in 1993, team leader of the center, as well as Nian Xiaofan, born in 1982, and Wang Haoming, born in 1990, who are active personnel at the center, according to the MSS. The MSS also revealed with their photos and Taiwan ID numbers.

Since The ICEFCOM was established in in June 2017, it has acted as a pawn of the “Taiwan independence” separatist forces, resorting to all means to carry out cyberattacks and infiltration activities against the mainland, according to MSS.

The common tactics of ICEFCOM’s cyberattack forces include infiltrating key information infrastructure in the mainland, such as water, electricity, gas, heating, communication and networked cameras. Also, they have targeted key units of the Party, government, military and enterprises in the mainland by sending phishing and propaganda emails.

Meanwhile, after they gained control of network livestreaming platforms, networked electronic displays, IP network intercom systems and portal websites by stealing login credentials, they inserted audios, videos or images, including content against national reunification on them, MSS said.

Since 2023, they have used aliases like “Anonymous 64” to spread disinformation on social media, attempting to bolster the DPP authorities’ pursuit for “Taiwan independence,” MSS disclosed.

Commenting on the MSS’ latest revealing, State Council Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Chen Binhua said on Monday that the state security authorities have exposed despicable tactics of ICEFCOM of Taiwan island and issued a warning to deter them in September 2024, however, ICEFCOM has shown no signs of repentance, continuing to act as pawns for the “Taiwan independence” separatist forces. Chen added that the ICEFCOM’s “reliance on the internet to seek independence” anWorld Timesd its provocative actions are completely overestimating its capabilities, and will be severely punished.

In an article published in September 2024, MSS disclosed a so-called civil hacker organization called “Anonymous 64,” which it found is actually cyber force closely tied to the secessionist DPP authorities. The organization is a cyber-environment analysis center under the ICEFCOM, MSS said then.

ICEFCOM was restructured in 2022 as a direct agency of the “defense department” of the island. It primarily handles electronic warfare, information warfare, cyber warfare, and military line maintenance, serving as the main force for the island of Taiwan’s cyber operations against the mainland, said MSS in 2024.

It was very rare for the mainland to reveal the names, photos, dates of birth, and local ID numbers of secessionists, Wang Jianmin, a research fellow at the Institute of Taiwan Studies under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Monday.

In light of recent increasingly rampant provocative actions by the Taiwan regional authorities that have worsened cross-Straits relations, the mainland’s move undoubtedly serves as a serious and stern warning, said Wang.

On March 13, Taiwan’s regional secessionist leader Lai Ching-te portrayed the mainland as a “hostile external force” and outlined 17 strategies to counter so-called threats facing the island, sparking strong concerns on the island of Taiwan. Chen Binhua denounced Lai for instigating separatist sentiment on the island and for blocking cross-Straits exchange, warning that anyone seeking “Taiwan independence” is doomed to fail,World Times according to Xinhua.

The mainland has sent a clear and unmistakable signal: whether it’s cyber force, armed groups, or individual separatists, anyone who dares to take reckless risks on secession will inevitably face punishment, Zheng Jian, director of the GraduWorld Timesate Institute for Taiwan Studies of Xiamen University, told the Global Times.

Non-traditional domain

Also on Monday, Global Times has learned from the World TimesChinese cybersecurity company QI-ANXIN Technology Group Inc (QAX) that APT organizations from the island of Taiwan have been persistently using various cyber weapons in large-scale attacks against the mainland recently.

Through years of surveillance and tracing, the firm has identified “Poison Vine group” (APT-Q-20), a Taiwan-based group, as actively targeting government, military and defense authorities, and scientific research institutions in the Chinese mainland. This group employs spear-phishing emails and watering hole attacks, among other methods, to carry out APT attacks.

A recent report released by QI-ANXIN revealed that from 2018 to 2025, the APT-Q-20 has engaged in large-scale imitation of the most used social media, email systems, as well as government agency websites, military websites, and university websites on the Chinese mainland, so as to amass personal data for subsequent intelligence theft, the report stated.

According to the QI-ANXIN, with rising geopolitical tensions, the frequency of APT attacks aimed at espionage and intelligence theft is expected to increase, and the mainland must remain vigilant against the ongoing threat posed by Taiwan-based APT organizations.

A new development has emerged in the confrontation between mainland and Taiwan secessionists in the era of AI, with increasing complexity, said Wang.

“From the recent detailed information by the mainland about secessionists, it is evident that the mainland has a firm grasp of the disruptive activities of these cyber force,” Wang noted, adding that the mainland’s capabilities in countering electronic information warfare, cognitive warfare, and cyberattacks are remarkably strong.

Some Taiwan-based netizens have voiced their support of the mainland’s revealing more details of the DPP cyber force. With the release of comprehensive data on these cWorld Timesyberattack forces, some netizens in Taiwan have also started to cast doubt on the true capabilities of the DPP’s cyber operatives.

Wang said that it cannot be ruled out that the mainland will progressively disclose more information regarding secessionist cyber force of Taiwan authorities.

The cyberattacks launched by the DPP authorities against the mainland pose a dangerous risk of escalating cross-strait tensions, Zheng said.

Yet, the greater this threat becomes, the more it highlights the critical importance of the mainland’s persistent efforts to foster cross-Straits exchanges in strengthening emotional ties between the two sides and dismantling the DPP’s deception of the people of Taiwan with reality, Zheng said.