In a recent development, the Biden administration has revealed that a Chinese hacking operation successfully breached US government email systems, including the State Department. This breach occurred just before Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to Beijing in June, providing the Chinese government with insights into US thinking. The hack, which was discovered by the State Department around the same time as Blinken’s visit, was initially unclear in terms of attribution and remained largely unknown within the department.
The revelation that China gained access to information ahead of a crucial visit aimed at resetting US-China relations underscores the complexities of modern diplomacy. However, it is not surprising to US officials who are well aware of the mutual espionage activities between major global powers. When asked about the United States’ response to the hacking operation, Blinken refrained from providing details, stating that the incident is still under investigation.
US officials have consistently identified China as the most advanced adversary in cyberspace, with the FBI claiming that Beijing has a larger hacking program than all other governments combined. China, on the other hand, has consistently denied these allegations and accused US intelligence agencies of conducting their own cyber-espionage against Chinese assets.
The hack, which targeted an unclassified system, had limited implications as US officials generally assume that unclassified systems can be compromised. Nevertheless, it provided the Chinese government with additional knowledge from private discussions among US officials leading up to Blinken’s visit. The hack also raises concerns as Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo is expected to visit China soon.
During a meeting with Chinese official Wang Yi in Indonesia, Blinken raised the issue of the hack, emphasizing that any action targeting US government, companies, or citizens is a significant concern. However, the specifics of the discussion and the responses from both sides were not disclosed.
The State Department acknowledged the detection of anomalous activity in June and took immediate steps to secure the system and notify Microsoft. However, as a matter of cybersecurity policy, the department refrained from discussing the details of their response. The incident remains under investigation, and the State Department continues to monitor its networks and update security procedures.
The breach of US government email systems by a Chinese hacking operation has raised concerns about the security of sensitive information and the potential impact on diplomatic relations. As the investigation unfolds, the Biden administration faces the challenge of formulating an appropriate response to this cyber-espionage incident.
