Beijing: China today denounced “all forms of cyberattacks”, after reports surfaced of suspected state-sponsored Chinese hackers targeting the power sector in India in recent months.
According to a threat intelligence firm, Recorded Future, the Indian power sector was targeted as part of an apparent cyber espionage campaign.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian, though sought to distance the Chinese government from the espionage episode and said, “Given the virtual nature of cyberspace and the fact that there are all kinds of online actors who are difficult to trace, it’s important to have enough evidence when investigating and identifying cyber-related incidents. One should be all the more prudent when pointing cyberattacks to the government of a certain country.”
Lijian further claimed that China will never encourage, support or condone cyber attacks, and instead shifted the blame on the United States. “As is known to all, the US is the world’s largest source of cyber-attacks and hacking empire,” he said.
Offering a “piece of advice” to the relevant company – Recorded Future – he said: “If they really care about global cyber security, they should pay more attention to the cyber attacks by the US government-sponsored hackers on China and other countries, and do more to promote dialogue and cooperation among countries, rather than sow discord and sling mud at China under the pretext of cyberattack issues.
– global bihari bureau
