Taipei: The Cabinet on Thursday approved a four-year plan to spend NT$8.8 billion (US$290.6 million) to strengthen the country's cybersecurity resilience.According to Focus Taiwan, the 7th National Cybersecurity Development Program will focus on key areas such as developing cybersecurity talent within government agencies and raising public awareness of cybersecurity issues. The program also aims to strengthen the information and communication security of Taiwan's critical infrastructure and enhance its defense mechanisms.The critical infrastructure spans at least six sectors, including energy, water resources, transportation, communications, healthcare and welfare, and finance, Tsai Fu-long, head of the Administration for Cyber Security, said at a news conference. The program will further aim to bolster Taiwan's cybersecurity industry by promoting a certification and verification system for information and communication products, and employing AI-driven technologies to automate protection against potenti al cyberattacks.Deputy Digital Affairs Minister Lin Yi-jing highlighted a key feature of the program will be leveraging the strength of the private sector to help it expand internationally. Citing Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) as an example, Lin mentioned the Ministry of Digital Affairs has collaborated with the company to establish SEMI E187, a specification for fab equipment that strengthens semiconductor information security. The goal is for TSMC and other semiconductor companies to adopt this standard to help protect the cybersecurity of Taiwan's semiconductor supply chain.Meanwhile, the AI-driven proactive defense system uses generative AI to track hacker intrusions, identify their attack methods, and issue early warnings, Tsai explained. The government plans to allocate NT$8.8 billion for the program over a four-year period from 2025 to 2028.