Google announced the inauguration of a new cyber defence hub in Tokyo in response to increasing digital security concerns emanating from China in the region. Named the "Cybersecurity Center of Excellence," this initiative is geared towards leading research efforts and nurturing technological expertise to mitigate cyber threats, according to Google. "We are officially launching the Cybersecurity Center of Excellence in Japan, aiming to connect leading security specialists, researchers, and partners", Google said in a statement to AFP.
According to the Nikkei Business Daily, the center plans to collaborate with tech specialists from nations such as India, Australia, and South Korea to explore strategies against cyberattacks collectively. It marks Google's inaugural hub of its kind in Asia.
The moves come after Google warned in October that the Asia-Pacific faces "more cyberattacks than any other region", attributing its vulnerability in part to "chronic talent shortage". Japanese authorities have also echoed the concerns. In September, the National Police Agency joined its American counterparts, including the FBI, in warning of widespread malware attacks by China-linked cyber actors known as BlackTech.
In a joint statement, the NPA revealed that BlackTech has focused its cyber activities on government, industrial, technology, media, electronics, and telecommunication sectors, including organizations that provide support to the militaries of the US and Japan. Junichiro Uchiyama, interim lead of the new center, stated in a release that amidst escalating security risks, the center's objective is to bolster Japan's cybersecurity framework through the utilization of advanced technologies and strategic partnerships.
The US government cautioned that China poses the most extensive, active, and continuous cyber espionage threat to both its governmental and private sectors. Conversely, Beijing accuses Washington of being the foremost hacking power globally, pointing to documented instances of cyber warfare, online surveillance, and hacking.