Chinese officials rebuke the United States and Britain for what they deem as the politicization of cybersecurity matters, accusing both nations of maligning China and implementing unilateral sanctions.
Lin Jian, the spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry, criticized the US and UK during a routine press briefing, labelling their actions as purely political manoeuvres aimed at tarnishing China’s image.
Expressing strong dissatisfaction, Lin firmly opposed the allegations and subsequent sanctions imposed by the US and UK.
The move follows recent charges and sanctions levelled against China, alleging its involvement in a wide-ranging cyberespionage campaign targeting millions of individuals.
The hacking group, dubbed Advanced Persistent Threat Group 31 (APT31) by authorities in the US and UK, is purportedly linked to China’s Ministry of State Security.
The Chinese Embassy in London dismissed the accusations as baseless fabrications, highlighting previous technical clarifications made by China in response to the evidence provided by British authorities.
However, despite China’s efforts to address the allegations, Lin lamented the lack of further response from the British side.
Britain’s allegations of Chinese hackers attempting to breach the email accounts of critical lawmakers have further escalated tensions.
Lin cited China’s firm stance in defending its legitimate rights and interests, asserting that necessary measures will be taken to safeguard them.
The cyberattack accusations against China extend beyond the US and UK, with other countries such as New Zealand also voicing concerns.
New Zealand recently raised objections to China’s alleged involvement in a state-sponsored cyber hack targeting its parliament in 2021.
Similarly, the United States disclosed its operation to combat a pervasive Chinese hacking campaign earlier this year, aimed at compromising thousands of internet-connected devices.
