China has hit back at the United States and the United Kingdom for imposing sanctions over alleged Chinese government-backed cyberattacks, calling the Western allies' move an act of "political manipulation." The accusations and sanctions come as China faces growing scrutiny from key Western democracies, which are taking a more concerted and coordinated stand against what they view as unacceptable levels of hacking and espionage by Beijing.
On Monday, the US and the UK announced a set of criminal charges and sanctions against seven Chinese hackers for allegedly conducting sweeping attacks on behalf of China's civilian intelligence agency. The yearslong campaign allegedly targeted American officials, senators, journalists, and companies - including Pentagon contractors - as well as British parliamentarians, the UK's election watchdog, and members of the European Parliament, affecting millions of people.
New Zealand also weighed in on Tuesday, accusing state-sponsored Chinese hackers of launching "malicious cyber activity" against the country's parliament in 2021. Australia and the European Union expressed solidarity with the UK and voiced concerns over China's alleged malicious cyber activities.
At a news conference Tuesday, China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian lashed out at the US and the UK, accusing them of "hyping up the so-called cyberattacks by China" and engaging in "purely political manipulation." Lin urged the Western allies to "stop politicizing cyber security issues, stop slandering and smearing China, impose unilateral sanctions, and stop cyberattacks on China."
The accusations and sanctions come at a sensitive time for China, as it grapples with a host of economic challenges, including an exodus of foreign investment, and tries to manage tensions and repair frayed relations with major Western powers. The coordinated move by the US and its allies undermines Beijing's "divide and rule" strategy, according to Liu Dongshu, an assistant professor focusing on Chinese politics at City University of Hong Kong.
"My observation is that China has always sought to create some distance between the US and other Western countries, such as European nations and Australia. Especially considering the possibility of a reelection of Donald Trump, China feels there may be a chance to separate them a little more," Liu said. "But (the accusations) show that despite their differences, these countries remain united on many issues regarding China."
The sanctions against two Chinese nationals and a technology company in the central Chinese city of Wuhan mark the first time Britain has slapped penalties on Chinese state-affiliated entities for alleged cyberattacks. British cybersecurity officials said a Chinese state-backed hacking group known as APT31 had "conducted reconnaissance activity" against British parliamentarians who were openly critical of Beijing in 2021 and had "highly likely" breached the UK's Electoral Commission in 2021 and 2022, accessing personal data of 40 million voters.
Jonathan Sullivan, an associate professor and China specialist at the University of Nottingham, said the sanctions come at a sensitive time in the UK, which is facing a general election and bracing itself for a wave of misinformation. "Our economic relations with China are already undergoing securitization, from investment to data protection," he said, citing Britain's bans on Chinese tech giant Huawei from its 5G networks and on the camera systems of Chinese surveillance company Hikvision from sensitive sites.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry said China had made "technical clarification" in response to the APT31-related information submitted by the UK, calling its evidence "insufficient" and "unprofessional." The sanctions could risk disrupting the upward trajectory of UK-China ties, which have stabilized in the past year after years of deterioration following British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's "robust pragmatism" approach to foreign policy, Sullivan said.
As Beijing comes under growing pressure from Western democracies, its frustration was evident in Lin's accusation that the US is encouraging the Five Eyes alliance "to spread all kinds of disinformation about the threats posted by Chinese hackers for geopolitical purpose." The coordinated move by the US, UK, and other allies highlights the growing concern over China's alleged state-sponsored hacking activities and the united front being formed to counter these threats.
CNN and BBC ontributed to this report.
