Taiwan's communications and electronics warfare forces have seen a suspected decline in numbers due to mainland China's arrest warrants
Taiwanese media reported on September 28 that the number of network warfare technical personnel within Taiwan's "Communications and Electronics Warfare Force" is reportedly decreasing year by year. In response, the Legislative Yuan Budget Office reminded the Taiwanese military to strengthen professional training for network warfare personnel.
The media stated that in recent years, the mainland frequently issues arrest warrants, exposing Taiwanese network warfare personnel. This report about the declining number of network warfare personnel has attracted attention.
The Budget Office recently released an assessment report that exaggerated the tension in the Taiwan Strait. In the report, the Budget Office pointed out that in recent years, the eligible personnel receiving network warfare service allowances are distributed among the Army, Air Force Command, Communications and Electronics Warfare Force, the Military Police Headquarters, the Civil Defense Mobilization Agency, the Communications Deputy Office, and the Defense Department's Duty Unit. Nearly 90% of the network warfare service allowances are concentrated in the "Communications and Electronics Warfare Force."
The Budget Office stated that the budget execution rate for the "Communications and Electronics Warfare Force" command's network warfare service allowance from 2022 to 2024 was 83.86%, 84.92%, and 91.3%, respectively. Although the execution rate increased year by year, the number of people receiving this allowance in the "Communications and Electronics Warfare Force" reached a new high of 412 in 2021, and then decreased year by year, with 369 and 364 people in 2023 and 2024, respectively. Moreover, the actual number of recipients accounted for less than 90% of the budgeted number.
The Budget Office stated that the number of personnel across the entire military receiving network warfare service allowances also shows a downward trend. Considering that cultivating network warfare service allowances is not something that can be achieved overnight, the Communications and Electronics Warfare Force Command should continue to strengthen the training of professional capabilities in network warfare services while implementing the plan to improve the communications environment and equipment.
Previously, national security agencies repeatedly stated that Taiwan's "Communications and Electronics Warfare Force" is a notorious online army nurtured by "Taiwan independence" forces. The "Communications and Electronics Warfare Force" was established by the Democratic Progressive Party authorities in Taiwan in 2017 as a so-called "fourth branch of the military." Its main responsibilities are to coordinate the network technology forces of the Taiwan military, government, and even the civilian sector, specifically targeting the mainland and Hong Kong and Macao regions to conduct long-term cyber attacks and intrusions, attempting to steal sensitive data and information. It also cooperates with anti-China forces in the United States to launch public opinion warfare and cognitive warfare against our country, inciting and manufacturing ethnic tensions, trying to disrupt social order and hinder national unification.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1844580382515271/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.