The United Kingdom and the United States have leveled accusations against China, alleging its involvement in “malicious” cyber attacks on a global scale

In an unprecedented move, the United Kingdom and the United States have accused China of orchestrating a global campaign of “malicious” cyber attacks, shedding light on Beijing’s espionage activities.

Britain has publicly attributed several cyber incidents to China, including the targeting of the Electoral Commission watchdog and an online “reconnaissance” effort aimed at the email accounts of Members of Parliament (MPs) and peers. British intelligence services believe that Chinese operatives may exploit stolen data to target dissidents and critics of Xi Jinping’s government within the UK.

US officials have implicated the APT31 hacking group, backed by the Chinese government, in a decade-long effort to compromise sensitive data belonging to politicians, journalists, academics, dissidents, and American companies. According to US Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, this extensive hacking operation aimed to suppress critics of the Chinese regime, infiltrate government institutions, and pilfer trade secrets.

In response to these allegations, the US has indicted seven individuals believed to be involved in the cyber attacks, while the UK has sanctioned a front company, Wuhan Xiaoruizhi Science and Technology Company, along with two individuals associated with the APT31 hacking group, Zhao Guangzong and Ni Gaobin.

However, some UK lawmakers argue that these measures are insufficient. They advocate for labeling China as a “threat” to national security rather than an “epoch-defining challenge” and pushing for China’s placement in the “enhanced” tier under the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme.

The UK government, represented by Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden, hints at a potential shift in policy towards China, suggesting that the country could soon be declared a “threat.” Cabinet tensions have arisen over the issue, with some ministers advocating for tougher action against Beijing, while others express concerns about potential economic and trade repercussions.

Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron has condemned China’s actions as “completely unacceptable” and has raised the issue with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi. Additionally, the Chinese ambassador has been summoned to the UK’s Foreign Office to address his country’s actions.

Meanwhile, New Zealand has also accused hackers linked to the Chinese government of launching a state-sponsored cyber operation targeting its parliament in 2021. Minister Judith Collins, responsible for the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB), attributes this activity to a China-linked group known as APT40. However, unlike the UK and the US, New Zealand does not plan to sanction China due to the absence of relevant legislation.

In response, the Chinese government vehemently denies involvement in cyber attacks, describing the accusations as “completely fabricated and malicious slanders.” China emphasizes its commitment to combating cyber attacks within the bounds of the law while urging against the politicization of cyber security issues and baseless accusations.