China has urged the United States and the United Kingdom to stop politicising cybersecurity issues, refrain from defaming China, and cease imposing unilateral sanctions on the nation.
During a routine press briefing, Lin Jian, spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry, criticised the revival of allegations against China for cyberattacks and the imposition of sanctions as purely political manoeuvres. He expressed China’s strong opposition and dissatisfaction with such actions.
Both US and UK officials recently filed charges, imposed sanctions, and accused Beijing of orchestrating a sweeping cyberespionage campaign allegedly affecting millions of individuals.
The hacking group identified as Advanced Persistent Threat Group 31 or “APT31” was linked to China’s Ministry of State Security by authorities in the US and Europe.
In response, the Chinese Embassy in London rejected the charges as completely fabricated and malicious. Lin stated China’s previous technical rebuttals and criticised the British authorities for their lack of evidence and professionalism in drawing conclusions.
Despite China’s efforts, Lin expressed regret over the absence of further response from British authorities.
Britain also accused Chinese hackers of trying to breach the email accounts of British lawmakers critical of China. Lin stated that China had formally protested to all relevant parties and would take the necessary measures to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests.
China has consistently denied accusations of hacking and cyberattacks from other countries. New Zealand raised concerns about China’s alleged involvement in a state-sponsored cyber hack of its parliament in 2021. The United States recently initiated an operation to combat an alleged widespread Chinese hacking campaign that compromised thousands of internet-connected devices.