In the midst of escalating accusations and mounting tensions, China has called on the United States and the United Kingdom to cease politicising cybersecurity matters and refrain from baseless defamation against the nation.
The Chinese foreign ministry, represented by spokesperson Lin Jian, denounced recent actions taken by US and UK officials as mere political manoeuvres aimed at tarnishing China’s image on the global stage.
During a routine press briefing, Lin Jian vehemently criticized the revival of allegations implicating China in cyberattacks and the unilateral imposition of sanctions, labeling them as unjustifiable and solely driven by political agendas. Both the US and UK recently raised their accusations against China, alleging its involvement in a sweeping cyberespionage campaign purportedly affecting millions of individuals.
Authorities in the US and Europe have linked the hacking activities to Advanced Persistent Threat Group 31, also known as “APT31,” which they claim has ties to China’s Ministry of State Security. However, the Chinese Embassy in London dismissed these charges as entirely fabricated and malicious.
Lin Jian stated China’s previous technical rebuttals to such allegations and censured British authorities for their lack of evidence and professionalism in drawing conclusions. Despite China’s efforts to address the issue, Lin expressed regret over the absence of a meaningful response from British authorities.
Furthermore, amidst accusations of attempting to breach the email accounts of British lawmakers critical of China, Lin reaffirmed China’s stance of denying any involvement in cyberattacks. China has formally protested to all relevant parties and vowed to take necessary measures to protect its legitimate rights and interests.
These recent developments follow a pattern of accusations against China regarding cybersecurity breaches. Notably, New Zealand raised concerns about China’s alleged involvement in a state-sponsored cyber hack of its parliament in 2021. Moreover, the United States has initiated operations to combat what it claims is a widespread Chinese hacking campaign compromising thousands of internet-connected devices.
