Washington and London applied sanctions on a hacker group reportedly tied to the Chinese Ministry of State Security last week, alleging that Beijing sponsored a co-ordinated cyberespionage campaign that targeted millions of people in the U.S., U.K., and New Zealand. Beijing denied responsibility.
Canada did not impose sanctions on the group — known as APT31 — nor did New Zealand, a fellow Five Eyes member, but a Communications Security Establishment (CSE) spokesperson confirmed to CBC that CSE observed “malicious activity by this same threat actor targeting Canada.”
The allegations come as Canada’s foreign interference inquiry resumes in Ottawa. Current and former Canadian politicians spoke at the inquiry this week, with some alleging that Beijing was responsible for targeted attacks — ranging from misinformation to intimidation — against them.
Biden, Xi hold ‘constructive’ talks
Meanwhile, U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a 90-minute call on Monday to discuss issues including trade, technology, sanctions, and the South China Sea. Despite the fraught topics, both sides labelled the talks “candid and constructive.”
The same day, Nikkei reported that the U.S. and Japan will unveil subsidy rules for “strategic goods” like semiconductors to “avoid overreliance on China.”
