Cisco to Establish Cybersecurity Center in Taiwan

FILE PHOTO: A Taiwanese flag is seen on top of Taiwan's central bank in Taipei, Taiwan, December 14, 2022. REUTERS/Ann Wang/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A Taiwanese flag is seen on top of Taiwan's central bank in Taipei, Taiwan, December 14, 2022. REUTERS/Ann Wang/File Photo
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Cisco to Establish Cybersecurity Center in Taiwan

FILE PHOTO: A Taiwanese flag is seen on top of Taiwan's central bank in Taipei, Taiwan, December 14, 2022. REUTERS/Ann Wang/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A Taiwanese flag is seen on top of Taiwan's central bank in Taipei, Taiwan, December 14, 2022. REUTERS/Ann Wang/File Photo

US networking equipment maker Cisco said on Monday it would set up a cybersecurity center in Taiwan and work with the government to train more people to work in the sector.

Democratically governed Taiwan, which Beijing views as its own territory, has repeatedly complained of cyberattacks coming from China, targeting government officials and departments as well as tech firms as part of a broader pressure campaign, Reuters reported.

China denies involvement in hacking attacks.

Cisco said that as part of what it calls its Taiwan Digital Acceleration Plan 3.0, it would focus on cybersecurity, planning to partner with the government to train people and address a broader global talent shortage.

"In addition, Cisco aims to collaborate with relevant tech associations to establish a security center in Taiwan for enhanced threat intelligence and cyber readiness," it said in a statement.

Guy Diedrich, the company's global innovation officer, told reporters it would "be doing a great deal of work around security" including the new "security innovation center" in Taiwan, though he declined to provide investment figures.

"The nice thing about the digital acceleration program is that there is no ceiling on investments. We continue to make them," he said of the project, that also covers artificial intelligence in areas like transport and sustainability operations at Kaohsiung port in southern Taiwan.

Launching the plan, Diedrich told an audience that included Taiwan Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim that he hoped there would be a fourth round of investment.



Microsoft Consolidates Retail Channels in China

FILE PHOTO: A person walks past a Microsoft sign at its office building in Beijing, China May 25, 2023. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A person walks past a Microsoft sign at its office building in Beijing, China May 25, 2023. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/File Photo
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Microsoft Consolidates Retail Channels in China

FILE PHOTO: A person walks past a Microsoft sign at its office building in Beijing, China May 25, 2023. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A person walks past a Microsoft sign at its office building in Beijing, China May 25, 2023. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/File Photo

Microsoft is consolidating its retail channels in mainland China, the firm said in response to media reports that it is closing its network of authorized physical retailers in the world's second-largest economy.
Microsoft did not confirm or deny the closures and did not comment on the number of authorized stores that would be impacted by the consolidation, in response to a request for comment from Reuters.
"Microsoft continually assesses its retail strategy to meet the evolving needs of our valued customers and we’ve made the decision to focus our channel approach in Mainland China," it said in a statement.
Microsoft products would still be available in the mainland via its retail partners and its own website, it added.
Microsoft does not directly operate physical retail stores in China and it did not elaborate on which retail partners would continue to stock its products in the China market.