Global Times: We noted China’s National Computer Virus Emergency Response Center, National Engineering Laboratory for Computer Virus Prevention Technology and the 360 Digital Security Group jointly released a report. It revealed that the US has been hyping up the so-called “Volt Typhoon” hacking group and blamed others to cover up cyberattacks it has launched. What’s China’s comment?

Mao Ning: I have also noted the report. Relevant institutions have released two reports before revealing that “Volt Typhoon” is in fact an international ransomware group, and that in order to receive more congressional budgets and government contracts, the US intelligence community and cybersecurity companies have been collaborating to spread disinformation and frame China. The newly-released report further exposed some staggering facts.

First, the US deployed advanced technical methods to frame other countries for launching cyberattacks. It inserted strings in other languages, such as Chinese, to mislead attribution analysis and frame other countries. It is noteworthy that Guam, which the US claimed to be the victim of “Volt Typhoon” cyberattacks, is actually the headquarter of a large number of cyberattacks against China and many Southeast Asian countries launched by the US.

Second, the US is using its advantages on undersea cables to launch massive, systemic cyber surveillance and espionage globally. Ironically, the US rallied some of its allies to issue a joint statement on the occasion of this year’s UN General Assembly, claiming to safeguard the security and resilience of undersea cables.

Third, the US has never stopped cyber theft against its allies, including Germany. In 2022, the US and Europe have established a new Trans-Atlantic Data Privacy Framework, and the US promised to enhance oversight of cyber surveillance activities in Europe in exchange for Europe’s consent to transmitting data to the United States. The US used the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act to compel major US internet companies to provide access to user data from their servers, and launched indiscriminate surveillance program and data theft against internet users from Germany and other places in the world.

Fourth, some US tech firms have become accomplices of the US government. The US on the one hand smears that other countries have pre-positioned access to launch cyberattacks. Yet on the other hand, the US has pre-positioned access points into Internet equipment products with the help of large Internet companies or equipment suppliers to attack supply chains worldwide. Some tech firms have actively involved themselves in spreading the false narrative about so-called Chinese hacking in order to get more interests .

The facts revealed in the report once again show who is the biggest threat to global cyberspace security. So far, the US government not only turned a blind eye to the report, but also continued to spread disinformation including “Volt Typhoon.”

China condemns such irresponsible moves by the US, and urges the US to immediately stop its cyberattacks globally and stop smearing China by using cybersecurity issues.