US Indicts Chinese Nationals in Cyber Espionage Case Targeting Dissidents

The US Department of Justice has unsealed charges against 12 Chinese nationals, linking them to hacking operations against dissidents, government agencies, and international organizations, underscoring ongoing cyber tensions between the two nations.

US federal prosecutors have laid charges against twelve Chinese nationals as part of an alleged cyber espionage scheme that involved the sale of data belonging to US-based dissidents to the Chinese government. This operation, characterized as "state-sponsored," also allegedly targeted various government entities, including the Treasury Department, as reported by the Justice Department (DOJ).

In a detailed statement, the DOJ highlighted that hackers had breached an American religious organization and a newspaper in Hong Kong, among other institutions. They stated that China has refrained from commenting specifically on these accusations but has continually refuted similar allegations in the past.

In December, another report by the Treasury Department pointed to a significant cyber breach orchestrated by Chinese-hacking groups that had gained access to unclassified documents and employee workstations. The Chinese government response at that time labeled the claims as "baseless" while affirming its opposition to hacking activities.

The exact timeline for when the latest charges were filed remains unclear; however, they were publicly revealed in a Manhattan federal court on Wednesday. Among those charged are two officers associated with China’s Ministry of Public Security.

According to the DOJ's findings, the hackers operated through a private company named i-Soon, charging Chinese governmental entities between $10,000 and $75,000 for each compromised email inbox. Allegedly, these individuals executed computer intrusions both under the supervision of Chinese ministries and independently, profiting significantly from stolen information.

Sue J Bai, the head of the DOJ’s National Security Division, emphasized the initiative to expose Chinese government agents who instigate widespread and reckless cyberattacks on global computer systems. She maintained that efforts would persist to dismantle the operations of cyber mercenaries and safeguard national security.

While the DOJ did not divulge further details regarding the US-based dissidents targeted, it mentioned that the religious organization had previously dispatched missionaries to China and had been vocally critical of the Chinese government. The unnamed Hong Kong newspaper reportedly holds a stance opposing the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

In addition to US agencies, the hackers were stated to have also targeted foreign ministries in countries such as Taiwan, India, South Korea, and Indonesia. This incident adds to a troubling pattern of cyber activities linked to China, which includes prior hacks of US presidential campaigns and international parliamentary systems in the UK and New Zealand.