Kathmandu. After a series of hacks and breaches involving British government departments and critical infrastructure, the UK has identified China as a major threat to national cyber security.
“China continues to be a dynamic threat to the cyber sector,” Richard Horn, head of Britain’s National Cyber Security Centre, said in a statement on Wednesday, “The continued activity we see from the Chinese system is a cause for deep and profound concern.” He warned, referring to Beijing as an “enemy”.
Hearn’s comments reflect growing concerns among British officials about China’s hostile activities online even as Prime Minister Keir Starmer seeks to improve economic ties with China. Britain is trying to build a crude policy approach toward Beijing, which is aimed at boosting the financial sector relations between the two as US President Donald Trump increases his trade with China.
The security threat will further complicate Britain’s China policy. Last year, Bloomberg reported concerns from officials that Chinese state leaders have made extensive and possibly successful – efforts to establish unauthorized access to Britain’s critical infrastructure networks.
Britain has also accused China of being behind the hacking of the Election Commission and members of parliament. British officials have also accused Chinese nationals of involvement in the recent hacking of personal data of armed forces personnel.
