Chinese Foreign Ministry Denounces US Hacking Accusations

The Chinese Foreign Ministry has strongly condemned a recent attempt by the United States to accuse China of hacking. The US claims that a Chinese hacking group, nicknamed "Flax Typhoon," is run by a Chinese company and collects intelligence for Chinese security agencies. The group is alleged to have hijacked over 200,000 consumer devices, half of which are located in the US.

China firmly opposes all forms of cyberattacks and rejects these groundless accusations and smears. The Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Lin Jian, urged the US to stop creating trouble in cyberspace and act responsibly. He called for dialogue and cooperation with the international community to address cybersecurity risks.

The FBI and US Department of Justice (DoJ) obtained a warrant to seize the group's infrastructure but did not identify any specific targets. They claim the targets include universities, government agencies, and other organizations. However, neither the FBI nor DoJ provided sufficient evidence to support their claims or the group's connection to China.

Experts believe the accusations are aimed at undermining China's global image and justifying US measures to contain China. They point to the FBI's own credibility crisis, both domestically and internationally, due to politically motivated information releases.

The infamous "China Initiative," launched by the DoJ in 2018 with FBI involvement, is cited as an example. The initiative, supposedly aimed at tackling economic espionage, resulted in the harassment of scientists and wrongful prosecutions. It was eventually discontinued in February 2022 due to concerns that it unfairly targeted Chinese Americans and US residents of Chinese origin.

Given the FBI's track record, the latest accusations are highly questionable. The "Flax Typhoon" group is said to be similar to "Volt Typhoon," another hacking group the US claimed was China-backed. However, the previous accusations were later found to be a fabricated campaign by US politicians and intelligence agencies.