UK Accuses China of Large-Scale Cyber Attacks on British Soil: A Growing Concern

The UK government has accused the Chinese leadership of carrying out two large-scale cyber attacks on British soil. Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden announced in the House of Commons that actors linked to the Chinese state were behind the attacks, which targeted democratic institutions and parliamentarians. This pattern of hostile behavior from China is a cause for concern.

Two individuals associated with APT 31 have been sanctioned in connection with these cyber attacks. It is believed that this group, linked to the Chinese state, targeted British parliamentarians in espionage activities in 2021, although these attempts were thwarted. The British Electoral Commission was also a target of a complex cyber attack in 2021 and 2022, but the attack was unsuccessful.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has described the situation as an “epochal challenge” with regards to China. However, China has denied these allegations, stating that they are actually a main victim of cyber attacks themselves. The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman in Beijing emphasized the complexity and sensitivity of investigating cyber attacks, calling for objective evidence rather than baseless accusations against other countries. China hopes to put an end to the spread of false information in this regard.