Beijing is engaged in an unprecedented scale of espionage, according to Western governments, employing not just security agencies, but also private companies and civilians to gather information and undermine rival states, Wall Street Journal reported. This relentless campaign aims to bolster China's economy while weakening other nations, prompting increasing warnings from Western intelligence agencies.
Last month, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) reported that a Chinese state-linked firm had hacked into 260,000 internet-connected devices, including routers and cameras, across countries such as the US, Britain, France, and Romania. A Congressional investigation also revealed that Chinese cargo cranes used in US seaports contained embedded technology, potentially enabling Beijing to control them remotely. In a separate incident, a former aide to New York Governor Kathy Hochul was accused of being a Chinese agent.
The extent of Beijing's hacking capabilities was further underscored by a recent breach in the US, compromising systems used by the federal government for authorised network wiretapping requests. Western intelligence agencies are increasingly sounding the alarm, warning businesses and individuals of the growing risks of engaging with China, yet they are struggling to curb Beijing's espionage activities effectively.
Calder Walton, a national security expert at Harvard's Kennedy School, remarked that Western governments are reacting to China's actions only after the damage has been done. China, however, consistently denies any allegations of espionage, portraying itself as a victim of foreign hacking and intelligence-gathering operations.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has made national security a top priority since taking power in 2012, urging officials and citizens to defend the country’s interests. China's intelligence-gathering efforts now dwarf those of Cold War-era Kremlin espionage, with an estimated 600,000 individuals involved in these activities. FBI Director Christopher Wray noted that China’s hacking programme surpasses that of any other nation, describing it as larger than all other major nations combined.
China’s espionage activities have led to numerous cybersecurity breaches, raising concerns across the West. In a recent operation, a group known as APT31 was revealed to be responsible for cyber-attacks targeting US officials, journalists, corporations, and even pro-democracy activists. British authorities also disclosed that APT31 had compromised information on millions of UK voters held by the Electoral Commission.
In response, the US Justice Department charged seven hackers, believed to be residing in China, with cyber intrusion. British authorities imposed sanctions on two of the individuals involved. Attorney General Merrick Garland warned of China's willingness to use such tactics to silence critics and steal intellectual property from American businesses.
The complexity of countering China’s actions lies in its deep economic ties with Western nations. As MI5 head Ken McCallum pointed out, unlike with autocracies such as Iran or Russia, economic sanctions on China are far more challenging to implement, as trade with China has long been crucial to Western economic growth. Despite this, Western leaders continue to raise concerns over Beijing’s espionage efforts.
Last month, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) reported that a Chinese state-linked firm had hacked into 260,000 internet-connected devices, including routers and cameras, across countries such as the US, Britain, France, and Romania. A Congressional investigation also revealed that Chinese cargo cranes used in US seaports contained embedded technology, potentially enabling Beijing to control them remotely. In a separate incident, a former aide to New York Governor Kathy Hochul was accused of being a Chinese agent.
The extent of Beijing's hacking capabilities was further underscored by a recent breach in the US, compromising systems used by the federal government for authorised network wiretapping requests. Western intelligence agencies are increasingly sounding the alarm, warning businesses and individuals of the growing risks of engaging with China, yet they are struggling to curb Beijing's espionage activities effectively.
Calder Walton, a national security expert at Harvard's Kennedy School, remarked that Western governments are reacting to China's actions only after the damage has been done. China, however, consistently denies any allegations of espionage, portraying itself as a victim of foreign hacking and intelligence-gathering operations.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has made national security a top priority since taking power in 2012, urging officials and citizens to defend the country’s interests. China's intelligence-gathering efforts now dwarf those of Cold War-era Kremlin espionage, with an estimated 600,000 individuals involved in these activities. FBI Director Christopher Wray noted that China’s hacking programme surpasses that of any other nation, describing it as larger than all other major nations combined.
China’s espionage activities have led to numerous cybersecurity breaches, raising concerns across the West. In a recent operation, a group known as APT31 was revealed to be responsible for cyber-attacks targeting US officials, journalists, corporations, and even pro-democracy activists. British authorities also disclosed that APT31 had compromised information on millions of UK voters held by the Electoral Commission.
In response, the US Justice Department charged seven hackers, believed to be residing in China, with cyber intrusion. British authorities imposed sanctions on two of the individuals involved. Attorney General Merrick Garland warned of China's willingness to use such tactics to silence critics and steal intellectual property from American businesses.
The complexity of countering China’s actions lies in its deep economic ties with Western nations. As MI5 head Ken McCallum pointed out, unlike with autocracies such as Iran or Russia, economic sanctions on China are far more challenging to implement, as trade with China has long been crucial to Western economic growth. Despite this, Western leaders continue to raise concerns over Beijing’s espionage efforts.
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