Explaining Taiwan’s Cybersecurity Policy Prior to 2016: Effects of Norms and Identities

Abstract

This paper implements a constructivist approach from the discipline of International Relations (IR) to investigate the interplay between international politics and cyberspace, and explains why the Taiwanese government has been relatively slow to exploit cyber warfare for national-defense purposes prior to 2016. While this paper acknowledges the technology determinist’s argument that new technology can set the direction of politics, developments in Taiwan have brought to our attention a different perspective, which is that politics can still shape the future direction and use of technology. This analysis enables us to understand, through the case of Taiwan, how politics trumps both technical decisions and the overall direction of technology. Looking closely at the case of Taiwan’s cybersecurity contributes to the broader IR literature concerning the effects of norms and identities, and extends policy analysis to the domain of cyberspace. It establishes a dialogue between the IR literature and Cybersecurity Studies, and reduces the knowledge gap in understanding Taiwan’s security policy.

A Review of Cybersecurity Strategies in Modern Organizations: Examining the Evolution and Effectiveness of Cybersecurity Measures for Data Protection

“…The study examines the influence of international politics on cyberspace and explains Taiwan's slow adoption of cyber warfare for national defense. Yau's (2018) analysis provides insights into how politics can shape the direction and use of technology in cybersecurity. Nkongolo's (2023) research underscores the critical role of cybersecurity in maintaining political system integrity.…”

“…The study highlights the need for cooperation between federal authorities, businesses, and academia to strengthen digital sovereignty. Yau's (2018) exploration of Taiwan's cybersecurity policy reveals the impact of norms and identities on technical decisions and the overall direction of technology. The study contributes to understanding the effects of international relations on cybersecurity strategies.…”