China Claims US Launches Cyber Attacks Against Its Military
In response to allegations that China’s People’s Liberation Army Third Department, Unit 61398 hacked hundreds of terabytes in data, China’s defense ministry claims that the shoe is on the other foot. “The Defense Ministry and China Military Online Web sites have faced a serious threat from hacking attacks since they were established,” defense spokesman Geng Yansheng told Reuters.
The Chinese claim they had about 144,000 attacks each month of 2012. The ministry claims IP-address analysis shows the US was the point of origin for 62.9 percent of the attacks. It also claims the attacks are increasing. “We hope that the US side can explain and clarify this,” Geng said. US officials have yet to comment on these developments, but China isn’t backing down from denying its alleged hacking operations, either.
Multiple countries, private entities and international organizations have claimed they’ve come under the threat of Chinese hacking for years. In contrast, China has accused several governments, foreign companies and miscellaneous organizations of cyber espionage. Who is telling the truth? Well, in the shadowy world of international intelligence, it’s often the case that everyone is keeping tabs on everyone else. The digital world is no different, it just happens at a much faster pace.
The US and China have similar motivations when it comes to cyber-security. Both are worried that their nuclear arsenals, military infrastructure and intelligence networks—as well as necessary energy, logistics and private interests—are at risk. Both face enemies in Islamic terrorist groups, and – despite national rhetoric – both are increasingly being pressured by a citizenry dissatisfied with corruption, representation, economic and health concerns. In the US, many fear SOPA and like-minded legislature will harm the free Internet and strangle US economic gains. Likewise, Chinese Internet enthusiasts and entrepreneurs have been fighting for greater Internet freedoms to both compete with the rest of the world and create a freer society.
