China protests U.S. sanctions on cybersecurity firm, claims foreign hacker attacks
China has condemned the U.S. Treasury’s decision to sanction Beijing-based cybersecurity company Integrity Technology Group over alleged involvement in multiple hacking incidents targeting critical U.S. infrastructure. The Chinese cybersecurity agency also reported foreign hacker attacks on its networks.
During a press briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun criticized the sanctions, accusing the U.S. of using cybersecurity issues to “defame and smear China.” He emphasized that China has consistently cracked down on cyberattacks and vowed to take measures to protect its rights and interests.
The U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control imposed sanctions on Integrity Technology Group, also known as Yongxin Zhicheng Technology Group, citing its alleged involvement in multiple cyberattacks, including those attributed to Flax Typhoon, a Chinese state-sponsored campaign targeting U.S. critical infrastructure. These sanctions block the company’s access to U.S. assets and prohibit business dealings with Americans.
In response, Integrity Technology Group denied the allegations, calling the sanctions “unwarranted” and “without factual basis.” In a statement to the Shanghai Stock Exchange, the company said it does not operate in the U.S. and has no assets there, adding that the sanctions would not impact its operations.
The China National Cyber Security Information Center reported a surge in malicious cyber activities targeting Chinese networks. These attacks allegedly originated from various countries, including the U.S., Netherlands, Singapore, Mexico, Turkey, and Vietnam. Methods used included Trojan programs, botnets, phishing, intellectual property theft, and privacy violations.
“They pose a major threat to China’s domestic networks and internet users,” the center stated, noting that some activities are suspected to involve criminal offenses.
The sanctions come amid heightened tensions between the U.S. and China over cybersecurity. Recently, the Treasury Department revealed that Chinese hackers had breached several of its workstations and accessed unclassified documents. U.S. officials are also addressing the fallout from a broader Chinese cyberespionage operation, dubbed Salt Typhoon, which allegedly targeted telecommunications firms and compromised private communications of numerous Americans.
Despite the allegations, Integrity Technology maintains that it adheres to all laws and regulations and remains committed to its mission of ensuring global cybersecurity.
Credit: Yahoo News
