Beijing has lashed out 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 US and the UK announced Monday 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.
Accusations of cyber espionage have long been a major point of friction between Beijing and Washington, with the US indicting a series of Chinese hackers in recent years.
The public accusations from three members of the so-called Five Eyes intelligence alliance show key Western democracies are now taking a more concerted – and coordinated – stand against what they view as unacceptable levels of hacking and espionage by Beijing.
At a news conference Tuesday, China's Foreign Ministry lashed out at the US and the UK, accusing them of "hyping up the so-called cyberattacks by China."
"This is purely political manipulation. China is strongly dissatisfied with this and firmly opposes it," ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said, adding China has made solemn representations to both sides.
"We urge the United States and the United Kingdom to stop politicizing cyber security issues, stop slandering and smearing China, impose unilateral sanctions, and stop cyberattacks on China."
The spokesperson did not mention New Zealand.
Australia and the European Union also expressed solidarity with the UK and voiced concerns over China's alleged malicious cyber activities, as Beijing comes under growing scrutiny in a big election year for democracies around the world.
The accusations and sanctions come as China is trying to manage tensions and repair frayed relations with major Western powers, as it grapples with a host of economic challenges including an exodus of foreign investment.
Beijing's frustration was evident on Tuesday, when Lin, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson, blamed the US for encouraging the Five Eyes alliance "to spread all kinds of disinformation about the threats posted by Chinese hackers for geopolitical purpose."
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, even as Western intelligence agencies have increasingly sounded the alarm in recent years.
Liu Dongshu, an assistant professor focusing on Chinese politics at City University of Hong Kong, said the coordinated move by the US and its allies undermines Beijing's "divide and rule" strategy.
"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," he said.
"But (the accusations) show that despite their differences, these countries remain united on many issues regarding China."
Keep reading about the implications of the sanctions.
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