
China denies link to espionage group accused of attacking Singapore critical infrastructure
In a Facebook post published over the weekend, the Chinese embassy said such claims were "groundless smears and accusations".
"The embassy would like to reiterate that China is firmly against and cracks down all forms of cyberattacks in accordance with law. China does not encourage, support or condone hacking activities," it wrote on Saturday.
Last Friday, a Singapore minister said the espionage group UNC3886 was "going after high value strategic threat targets, vital infrastructure that delivers essential services" but did not give details of the attacks.
The minister did not link the group to China but Google-owned cybersecurity firm Mandiant has described UNC3886 as a "China-nexus espionage group" that has attacked defence, technology and telecommunications organisations in the United States and Asia.
Beijing routinely denies any allegations of cyberespionage, and says it opposes all forms of cyberattacks and is in fact a victim of such threats.
Singapore's critical infrastructure sectors include energy, water, banking, finance, healthcare, transport, government, communication, media, as well as security and emergency services, according to the country's cyber agency.
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Telegraph
an hour ago
- Telegraph
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The saga of the new Chinese Embassy in London has reached its climax. Having bought the Royal Mint, a huge and historic site of more than five acres opposite the Tower of London, for £255m in 2018, Beijing is now developing it. Much of this building would be used for normal cultural and diplomatic purposes. But the plans include a vast basement with no obvious function. More concerningly, details of these plans have been redacted in Beijing's application. There are justifiable fears that the basement could become a high-tech centre for espionage, surveillance and monitoring of Chinese nationals. The basement might even include facilities where pro-democracy activists from Hong Kong could be interrogated. Lawyers for the Chinese are already exploring legal loopholes to extradite its opponents and rewards are offered to those who turn them in. The decision on granting planning permission now rests with the Housing Secretary. Angela Rayner is, of course, also the Deputy Prime Minister. As such she will be more concerned about global than local issues. Britain's economic dependence on China means that it seems most unlikely that Ms Rayner will refuse planning permission, apart from minor modifications. But it is welcome that she has at least asked for an explanation as to why the plans have been redacted. This is, however, an issue that transcends normal diplomatic relations. We cannot allow the largest embassy in Europe to be erected in such a strategic location in London without proper parliamentary and press scrutiny. Ms Rayner must elicit more information from the Chinese about what would go on inside their proposed basement. Until the Beijing authorities are more forthcoming about their intentions, the public is entitled to presume that they are sinister.