The Czech Republic has accused China of orchestrating cyberattacks against its Foreign Ministry’s communication network, officials revealed on Wednesday. The malicious activities, which began in 2022, targeted critical national infrastructure and are believed to have been carried out by the Advanced Persistent Threat 31 (APT31) hacking group linked to China’s Ministry of State Security.
While the extent of stolen information and damage remains unclear, the Czech Foreign Ministry has implemented a new communication system. Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský summoned China’s ambassador to Prague, condemning the cyber campaign as harmful to bilateral relations and damaging to China’s credibility.
China’s embassy dismissed the accusations as “groundless,” asserting its commitment to combating cyberattacks. The U.S. Embassy in Prague supported the Czech claims, highlighting APT31’s history of targeting U.S. and foreign officials, stealing trade secrets, and attacking critical infrastructure sectors.
NATO and the European Union also condemned the attacks, with NATO warning of a growing pattern of cyber threats from China and the EU pledging to not tolerate hostile cyber actions. The Czech Republic has faced similar cyberattacks in the past, including a significant breach in 2017 affecting top ministry officials.
Swifteradio.com
