Czech Republic Summons Chinese Ambassador Over Cyber Attacks

The Czech Republic has taken a strong stance against China's alleged involvement in a malicious cyber campaign targeting its Foreign Affairs Ministry network. In a move seen as a significant escalation, the country summoned China's ambassador to discuss the issue, which has been ongoing since 2022.

According to Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky, the attacks were perpetrated by the cyber espionage actor APT31, which is publicly associated with the Chinese Ministry of State Security. Lipavsky made it clear that such hostile actions have serious consequences for bilateral relations between the two countries, calling on Beijing to refrain from such attacks and take all necessary measures to address the situation.

The Czech Security Information Office (BIS) has identified China as a significant security threat in its 2024 annual report. The office stated that "the Chinese embassy logically focuses on gaining information about the Czech political scene." This move by the Czech government has sparked concerns about China's intentions and the growing pattern of malicious cyber activities stemming from Beijing.

EU member states have increasingly been targeted by cyber attacks from China in recent years, with the European Union urging all states, including China, to refrain from such behavior. "States should not allow their territory to be used for malicious cyber activities," said EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas. "We call upon all states, including China, to refrain from such behavior."

NATO also condemned the attack, stating that it observes with increasing concern the growing pattern of malicious cyber activities stemming from the People's Republic of China. The alliance remains committed to exposing and countering the substantial, continuous, and increasing cyber threat, including to democratic systems and critical infrastructure.

The Prague-Taiwan Ties Issue

Prague's close ties with Taiwan have also been a point of contention between China and the Czech Republic. Beijing has expressed strong objections to the country's engagement with the island, which is seen as a significant challenge to its claims in the South China Sea.

In May 2024, Lipavsky summoned the Russian ambassador over repeated cyberattacks targeting several European countries, including the Czech Republic, Germany, and Poland. The BIS then stated that Russia was a "permanent security threat" for the Czech Republic, which provides substantial humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine, battling a Russian invasion since 2022.

China has consistently denied allegations of state-organised hacking of overseas targets, but the recent attacks on the Czech Republic have raised concerns about its intentions. As tensions between Beijing and Prague continue to escalate, it remains to be seen how this situation will unfold in the coming days.