Q: Recently, the New Zealand National Cyber Security Centre, alongside relevant institutions from partner countries such as the United States, issued joint guidelines aimed at hardening for communications infrastructure. These measures specifically target a cyber espionage campaign allegedly conducted by China-affiliated threat actors.

What is the response of the Chinese Embassy in New Zealand to this?

A: We have taken noted that relevant institutions from New Zealand, the United States, and a few other countries issued the so-called joint guidance about enhanced visibility and hardening for communications infrastructure. The guidance claims that "People’s Republic of China-affiliated threat actors compromised networks of major global telecommunications providers to conduct a broad and significant cyber espionage campaign." We strongly reject those unfounded and irresponsible smears and slanders.

In fact, a recent report released by China’s National Computer Virus Emergency Response Center, the National Engineering Laboratory for Computer Virus Prevention Technology, and the 360 Digital Security Group reveals that the United States has been utilizing advanced technical methods to frame other nations for launching cyberattacks, such as inserting foreign-language strings, including Chinese, to distort traceability analysis and mislead attribution. Meanwhile, the US has been leveraging its strategic position in global submarine fiber-optic networks as well as other areas to conduct large-scale, systematic cyber surveillance and espionage all over the globe, even targeting the leaders of its allied countries.

Cybersecurity is a global challenge, and China itself is a significant victim of cyberattacks. We have consistently fought against and thwarted all forms of malicious cyber activities in strict accordance with the law.  In 2020, China introduced the Global Initiative on Data Security, calling on nations to collaborate on creating a cyberspace characterized by peace, security, openness, cooperation, and a robust order. This initiative emphasizes the importance of refraining from using information technology to undermine other countries' critical infrastructure, steal sensitive data, or jeopardize national security and public interests.

We urge the relevant countries to immediately cease their global cyberattacks and stop using cybersecurity issues as a pretext to smear China. We call on all nations to engage in dialogue and cooperation, to and collectively address cybersecurity threats, based on mutual respect, equality, and shared benefit.