China Protests US Sanctions Over Hacking Allegations, Highlights Foreign Attacks
China said that it is protesting over some sanctions that the U.S. imposed on the South Asian country for being involved in a cybersecurity attack. China’s Protest against US Sanctions is a response to North American countries’ claims. These claims said that a cyber group from Beijing planned cyberattacks on sensitive industries and government networks.
Beijing has refused the allegations as politically strained and without any merit. It alleges that the sanctions are part of a larger effort by Washington to slow China’s technology progress in the name of security threats.
According to the U.S. News, the Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said that America is using cyber-attacks as an issue to “defame and smear China.” Jiakun further said, “For some time now, the U.S. side has been playing up so-called Chinese cyber attacks and has even initiated illegal unilateral sanctions against China. China firmly opposes this and will take necessary measures to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests.”
US Points to Beijing Cyber Group Activities
The US recently implemented sanctions on several Chinese tech companies, accusing them of involvement in cybersecurity attacks. These moves are the newest efforts by the US government against cyber threats and state-sponsored hacking groups.
According to US officials, some of the targeted entities included a Beijing-based cybersecurity organization. This further deepened tensions between China and the U.S. over cybersecurity attacks and threats. In its allegations, the US claimed that operations sought to interfere with critical infrastructure and gather intelligence.
The Integrity Technology Group, which is in the middle of the China vs U.S., said that this move by the Biden government has “no factual basis.” The company said in a statement on Monday, 6th January 2025, “The company firmly opposes the U.S. Treasury Department’s unwarranted accusations and Illegal unilateral sanctions on the company.”
China Cites US Foreign Hacker Attacks
In its defense, China’s Ministry of Information Technology dismissed the allegations. They rather blamed the US for getting cyberattacks done on Chinese institutions. China’s foreign ministry said that Chinese networks had often been penetrated by US foreign hacker attacks and entailed great security risks to Chinese companies and government departments.
Speaking with Central Chinese TV, a representative of the Chinese cyber security agency observed: “The United States is the biggest source of cyber threats.” It is illogical that the US is putting sanctions on others while at the same time is spying the other countries, particularly China, through cyberspace.”
The cyber security concept of Beijing also attached importance to dialogue and cooperation mechanisms instead of confrontation in the international society.
The Chinese government said in a note on WeChat, “They pose a major threat to China’s domestic networked units and internet users and some activities have been suspected of criminal offenses.”
Growing Tensions in China vs. US Cyber Attacks
The exchange of accusations shows that the currently existing cyber conflict between the two countries is growing. The US has blamed China for state power cyber campaigns, on the other hand, Beijing responds that Washington is making the world’s web undefendable.
Analysts suggest that the confrontation in cyberspace occurs in connection with the confrontation in the rest of the world, both countries are competing for control over technology and security. The Chinese Protest against US Sanctions makes the tense relationship between the two leading world forces even worse.
