Taiwan Plans Cybersecurity Center to Counter Quantum And AI Threats

Insider Brief

• Taiwan will open a national cybersecurity center in August to counter threats from quantum computing, AI, and state-sponsored cyberattacks, according to The Tribune India.
• The center will coordinate efforts across four cybersecurity pillars, including protection of infrastructure and safe AI use, and implement policies like zero trust and quantum-resistant encryption.
• The initiative comes amid growing pressure from China and global concern over quantum-era threats such as future decryption of harvested encrypted data.

Taiwan will open a national cybersecurity center in August to respond to escalating threats from quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and state-sponsored hacking, The Tribune India reported, citing the National Institute of Cyber Security Research.

The announcement reflects a shift away from Taiwan’s previous incremental approach to cybersecurity, as outlined in the institute’s weekly publication, according to The Tribune. The new center is expected to launch major initiatives to bolster digital defenses and build international partnerships amid growing concerns over espionage, ransomware, and encryption-breaking technologies.

According to the report, “Taiwan is encountering significant cybersecurity threats posed by hackers supported by the Chinese state, along with challenges from artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, ransomware, and intellectual property theft,” as cited by The Tribune from the Taipei Times.

The center will coordinate Taiwan’s efforts across what the institute described as four “pillars of cybersecurity”: societal resilience, protection of the homeland and critical infrastructure, safeguarding vital industries and supply chains, and ensuring the safe use of AI, The Tribune reported.

A broader security framework will be established that brings together multiple government departments and global alliances. The new center will be tasked with identifying national-level threats by “mapping the country’s cybersecurity vulnerabilities and tracking global trends,” the institute explained, according to The Tribune.

It will also work closely with government agencies and private-sector partners to keep pace with changes in the cybersecurity landscape. According to the paper, the plan includes holding regular national cybersecurity conferences and providing funding to support the dissemination of cybersecurity policies and the protection of key government and infrastructure assets.

The report also said the government will implement specific cybersecurity policies, including “the implementation of the zero trust model, advancements in quantum encoding technologies, expansion of international cybersecurity alliances, and increased public awareness,” according to the Taipei Times via The Tribune.

The zero trust model assumes that all network access attempts must be verified continuously, even within a secure perimeter. This is considered essential to stop insider threats and advanced persistent attacks. Meanwhile, quantum encoding aims to protect sensitive data from being decrypted by future quantum computers, which are expected to be capable of breaking widely used encryption methods.

The center’s creation comes as Taiwan faces persistent cyber pressure from China. “Beijing has persistently articulated its objective of reunifying with Taiwan, employing diplomatic, economic and military pressure to isolate the island on the international stage,” The Tribune noted.

While today’s quantum computers are not yet powerful enough to break commercial encryption, experts warn that nation-states may already be collecting encrypted data in anticipation of future decryption capabilities. Taiwan’s decision to prioritize quantum-related protections reflects growing global concern over these “harvest now, decrypt later” tactics.

The center’s emphasis on artificial intelligence also follows the rise of generative AI models, which are being used to craft phishing messages, automate malware development, and create fake identities. Taiwan’s new policy aims to ensure AI tools are used safely and do not pose national security risks.