US, UK, NZ blame China

The US, British and New Zealand governments on Monday accused the Chinese state of being behind multiple cyberattacks against their political institutions, sparking an angry response from Beijing.

In rare, detailed public accusations pointing to Beijing, the three governments denounced a series of cyberattacks in recent years, in an apparently coordinated move to hold China accountable.

Seven Chinese accused

The US Department of Justice announced that it has charged seven Chinese nationals. “A massive global hacking operation” For fourteen years, it aims to contribute to “Economic Espionage and Foreign Intelligence Objectives” From Beijing.

Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said Monday that the operation involved sending more than 10,000 emails targeting businesses, politicians, election candidates and journalists in the United States and abroad.

According to Washington, a group called APT31 is behind it. “electronic spyware” Which was allegedly run by China's powerful Ministry of State Security from the city of Wuhan.

Hackers gained access to Email accounts and cloud storage accounts (Cloud, Editor's Note) And phone call recordings »The US Department of Justice said.

The British Electoral Commission targeted

Shortly afterwards, British Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden came to Parliament in London to make the announcement. “Chinese state actors” I have committed “Two malicious online operations” In 2020 and 2021, he denounced cyberattacks against parliamentarians critical of Beijing and against the UK Electoral Commission.

“This is the latest in a series of hostile activities by China, which include targeting democratic institutions and parliamentarians in the UK and other countries.”He said that while London must organize legislative elections within a few months.

The attack on the Electoral Commission allowed access to servers containing copies of electoral records containing data on 40 million voters, according to British media.

According to Oliver Dowden, this “Attempts to interfere with democracy in the United Kingdom have failed.” It will have no impact on the upcoming elections.

But he said the Chinese ambassador would be recalled and two individuals and their organization would be subject to sanctions. “engage in malicious cyber activities”in the UK and elsewhere around the world.

China has described the accusations as “completely groundless.”

They are Zhao Guangzong and Ni Gaobin, both members of the APT31 organization, which has also been sanctioned by the United States. In response, the Chinese embassy in Great Britain denounced the accusations. “Totally unfounded” and “malicious slander”.

In a coordinated announcement, Wellington accused a group linked to Beijing of hacking the computer system of the parliamentary office responsible for developing and publishing laws in 2021.

New Zealand's cybersecurity agency has linked a group known asAPT 40, “State supported” Defence Minister Judith Collins said in a statement published on Tuesday that the Chinese cyber attack targeted parliamentary services. She confirmed that the attack was repelled and the group was incapacitated.

“An important step,” says Wellington.

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon admitted to the press that attributing the cyber attack to China was a lie. “unimportant”It is likely to hamper good relations with the country's main trading partner.

New Zealand's foreign policy chief Winston Peters said Wellington had lodged a protest with the Chinese ambassador to the country.

For its part, the Chinese embassy in Wellington refused this. “Absolutely these are baseless and irresponsible accusations.”share it “strong resentment”.