China News Service: It was reported that on December 9, the UK government announced sanctions on two China-based companies, alleging that they have carried out cyberattacks against the UK and its allies and that they support Chinese state-linked cyber operations. What is the Foreign Ministry’s comment?

Guo Jiakun: China stands against hacking and fights such activities in accordance with the law. That said, we firmly oppose spreading disinformation out of political agenda. China strongly deplores and firmly rejects the UK’s political manipulation under the pretext of cybersecurity, and has lodged serious protests with the UK side both in Beijing and London.

China is the biggest victim of cyberattacks. A few months ago, China exposed a case about the U.S. National Security Agency carrying out cyberattacks and infiltration against China’s National Time Service Center. It needs to be noted that the UK was exactly one of the springboards the U.S. used to launch the above-mentioned cyberattacks on China. China has provided relevant information to the UK side. The UK and the U.S. are both members of the “Five Eyes” and NATO. We hope the UK will explain its role in the U.S.’s cyberattacks against China’s critical information infrastructure.

The world faces common challenges in cybersecurity. We urge the UK to correct its wrongdoing at once, abandon double standards and attempts to politicize the issue, and work with China in a truly responsible and constructive manner to jointly uphold peace, stability and prosperity in the cyberspace.