US Accuses China of Espionage Campaign, DOJ Indicts Seven Chinese Hackers

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Mar 26, 2024

Image copyright: Bill Hinton/Contributor/Moment Mobile via Getty Imagesstory last updated Mar 28

The Facts

The US Department of Justice (DoJ) on Monday unsealed an indictment against seven Chinese nationals allegedly involved in a hacking group that operated for 14 years targeting US and other foreign critics, businesses, and political officials in coordination with the Chinese government.
The US is offering up to $10M for information on the seven operatives, who allegedly sent over 10K “malicious emails,” impacting thousands of victims on multiple continents. The UK government also accused China of “malicious cyber campaigns” against its Electoral Commission and politicians.

The Spin

Anti-China narrative

The US and UK have determined that Chinese state-sponsored hacking groups have been operating malicious campaigns targeting millions of people and threatening national security. These groups continue to work at the behest of Beijing and are an integral part of China’s broader plan to spy on and attack its foreign critics. From targeting everyday citizens, to Electoral Commissions and politicians, China is facilitating dangerous cyber gangs that must be identified and stopped. The CCP seeks to compromise its adversaries’ security — this can’t be allowed to continue.

The Telegraph

Pro-China narrative

The UK and US are once again pushing unsubstantiated and slanderous lies against China in an attempt to foment more fear and push for illegal sanctions. Western countries perpetually push China as a boogeyman and continually lie about an imaginary Chinese threat. Beijing has never sought to meddle in any other country’s affairs, and it strictly adheres to a policy of non-interference. While China is the victim of foreign cyberattacks, it has fought against any malicious activities against other nations.

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