China Responds to Hacking Allegations, Accuses US of Disinformation Campaign

May 27, 2023

In response to recent hacking allegations made against China by Western intelligence agencies and Microsoft, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning categorically dismissed the claims as false. She asserted that these allegations are part of a larger disinformation campaign led by the United States through the Five Eyes alliance, aimed at serving its own geopolitical agenda.

Microsoft published a blog post on Wednesday stating that it had uncovered targeted and stealthy malicious activity directed at critical infrastructure organizations in the US. The attack was attributed to a State-sponsored Chinese hacking group known as Volt Typhoon.

Mao, speaking at a regular news briefing in Beijing, criticized the report, deeming it "extremely unprofessional" and claiming that it lacked a coherent chain of evidence. She highlighted that the US intelligence agencies, including the National Security Agency (NSA), along with their counterparts from Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand - collectively known as the Five Eyes alliance - jointly issued a similar report.

Labeling the Five Eyes as the world's largest intelligence association and the NSA as the world's biggest hacking group, Mao argued that it was ironic for them to release a report filled with what she called "disinformation." She further alleged that the involvement of a specific company in these reports indicated that the US was utilizing additional channels to spread false information.

Mao pointed to investigation reports released by Chinese institutions in September last year, which accused the US of launching over 1,000 cyber attacks on China's Northwestern Polytechnical University. These reports claimed that the US had used 41 specialized cyber weapons to steal core technical data. However, the US has yet to offer any explanation regarding these allegations.

Calling for transparency, Mao urged Washington to provide an explanation for its own cyber attacks instead of diverting public attention with what she considered false information.

China's response underscores its position that it is being unfairly targeted and accused of cyber activities while asserting that the US engages in similar actions.

The ongoing accusations and counter-accusations between the two nations continue to strain bilateral relations, highlighting the challenges in addressing cybersecurity concerns and fostering mutual trust. As the tensions persist, it remains to be seen how both countries will navigate these issues moving forward.