US, allies call out China for destabilising, irresponsible malicious cyber activity
DHARAMSALA, 20 July: The US and its allies have called out and condemned “China for its irresponsible, disruptive, and destabilizing behavior in cyberspace” and for posing a “major threat” to their “economic and national security.”
“The US and countries around the world are holding the People’s Republic of China (PRC) accountable for its pattern of irresponsible, disruptive, and destabilizing behavior in cyberspace, which poses a major threat to our economic and national security,” read a statement issued by the US State Department as it joined the UK, the EU, NATO, Australia, Japan, and Norway to jointly condemn Beijing’s malicious cyber activity, accuse the PRC of criminal extortion while confirming that” cyber actors affiliated while “the PRC’s Ministry of State Security (MSS) exploited vulnerabilities in Microsoft Exchange Server in a massive cyber espionage operation that indiscriminately compromised thousands of computers and networks, mostly belonging to private sector victims
“The PRC’s MSS has fostered an ecosystem of criminal contract hackers who carry out both state-sponsored activities and cybercrime for their own financial gain.”
Calling Beijing for “direct commitments not to engage in cyber-enabled theft of intellectual property for commercial gain,” the statement “laid out clear expectations and guidelines for what constitutes responsible behavior in cyberspace.”
“Responsible states do not indiscriminately compromise global network security nor knowingly harbor cyber criminals – let alone sponsor or collaborate with them. These contract hackers cost governments and businesses billions of dollars in stolen intellectual property, ransom payments, and cybersecurity mitigation efforts, all while the MSS had them on its payroll.”
The Secretary of State has further stated that the “US is working with our partners and allies to promote responsible state behavior in cyberspace, counter cybercrime, and oppose digital authoritarianism” and that they are also “providing support to countries that are committed to building their capacity to protect their digital networks, investigate and impose consequences on malicious cyber actors, and participate in international conversations on cyber policy.”
“These efforts will enhance global security and stability in cyberspace. The State Department is committed to driving this agenda forward, and we call upon all states that wish to see greater stability in cyberspace to join us in these efforts,” the statement concluded.
Karen Lesley Andrews, the Australian Home Affairs Minister has slammed Beijing for ‘undermining international stability’.
“China won’t get away with a huge cyber attack on 30,000 companies around the world,” Mail Online quoted the Minister as saying.
Meanwhile, China as expected has labeled the claim by the US and its allies a “huge lie,” while accusing the US of leading a ‘smear’ and ‘frame’ campaign on Beijing with its allies.
