Chinese Diplomats Reject U.S. Cyberattack Allegations Amid Growing Tensions

In discussions between Chinese diplomats and their American counterparts, the Chinese representatives have categorically dismissed allegations made by the U.S. regarding cyberattacks. Sources have indicated that these accusations are deemed to be without credible evidence, and the Chinese officials have raised alarms over what they perceive as the United States engaging in large-scale cyber espionage that threatens critical information infrastructure in China.

Recent reports from major U.S. publications like The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post have alleged that Chinese hackers, identified as part of a government-affiliated group dubbed "Salt Typhoon," have intercepted communications of American political figures. This narrative has received reinforcement from U.S. officials, who have also publicly targeted China for these purported cyber activities. However, observers within China argue that such reports are misleading, as they also expose the controversial practices of U.S. intelligence agencies, particularly concerning extensive wiretapping.

A report from The Washington Post suggested that the "Salt Typhoon" group is believed to have gone after U.S. systems involved in managing lawful wiretap requests from federal agencies. In light of similar accusations against China, Beijing has been vocal in its rebuttals, emphasizing that the U.S. is projecting its own cyber misdeeds onto others. Shen Yi, a notable expert from Fudan University, has remarked on the typical pattern of the U.S. intelligence community in exaggerating cybersecurity threats and manipulating information to fabricate narratives surrounding cyberattacks attributed to foreign nations.

Amidst these rising tensions, the U.S. Department of the Treasury recently imposed sanctions on a cybersecurity firm based in Beijing, claiming it aided Chinese hackers in breaching U.S. telecommunications systems. In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun urged the U.S. to cease its attempts to malign China using cybersecurity issues as a pretext, asserting that the U.S. has been alarmist about alleged "Chinese hacking" to justify unilateral sanctions.