**UK Suspects Chinese Involvement in Foreign Office Cyberattack**
The UK's Foreign Office was hacked in October, sparking concerns about the security of sensitive government documents and data. British officials suspect that the breach was carried out by Chinese state-backed actors, although a formal attribution has not yet been made.
According to sources within the government, the attack targeted thousands of documents, but the exact nature and extent of the breach remain unclear. Trade Minister Chris Bryant confirmed the incident in a series of broadcast interviews on Friday, downplaying its significance by stating that there was a "low risk" to individuals affected.
"We believe that we managed to close the loophole as it were, or the gap, pretty quickly," Bryant told BBC TV. "We think that it's a fairly low risk that individuals will have been compromised or affected." However, British officials speaking on condition of anonymity said that actors linked to the Chinese state are suspected of being behind the hack.
The incident has raised concerns about the security of government systems and data, particularly at a time when the UK is trying to recalibrate its relationship with China. In recent years, there have been several high-profile hacks and espionage cases attributed to Beijing, including the 2019 arrest of Huawei's Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou on US charges.
The Labour government's official policy is to cooperate, compete, and challenge China, in a bid to reap the benefits of trade with the world's second-largest economy while guarding against security threats. However, the recent hack has put this relationship under scrutiny, particularly given the Prime Minister Keir Starmer's criticism of Beijing's crackdown on democracy in Hong Kong.
Starmer just this week criticized the conviction of former Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai, describing it as "wrongful." He also announced plans to travel to China on his first official visit as premier next month, sparking concerns about the UK's ability to raise human rights issues with Beijing.
The proposed new Chinese Embassy in London has been another point of tension between the two countries. The mission is set to be the biggest in Europe and would be located close to sensitive fiber-optic cables. However, a final decision on whether or not to approve the embassy remains pending due to concerns about its proximity to key financial infrastructure.
October's hack follows a series of other breaches, including attacks on UK firms Jaguar Land Rover and Marks & Spencer earlier in the year. The incidents have highlighted the growing threat posed by state-sponsored hackers and the need for governments and businesses to invest in robust cybersecurity measures.
According to Trade Minister Chris Bryant, cyberattacks are now "part of modern life that we have to tackle and deal with." However, the recent hack has raised questions about the UK's ability to protect its citizens and interests from state-sponsored hacking.
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