Beijing vehemently refuted the Dutch government’s accusations of Chinese hackers engaging in espionage against the Netherlands, dismissing the claims as “baseless allegations” on Wednesday.
The Dutch military intelligence and security agency revealed on Tuesday the discovery of malicious software infiltrating a computer network utilized by its military, pointing the finger at a Chinese government entity for the cyber intrusion.
Responding to these allegations, the Chinese embassy in The Hague issued a statement asserting that Beijing consistently opposes and combats cyber attacks within the bounds of the law. The embassy’s website emphasized, “We will not allow any country or individual to engage in such illegal activities using Chinese infrastructure.”
The statement underscored China’s commitment to cybersecurity as a collective challenge faced by all nations, denouncing what it deemed as “malicious speculation and baseless accusations.” In the view of Chinese authorities, addressing cybersecurity threats requires cooperation rather than unfounded blame.
Dutch intelligence disclosed that the malicious software exploited vulnerabilities in systems provided by the cybersecurity company Fortinet. Notably, the software was discovered in a non-secret research and development network, according to intelligence agencies. The ongoing dispute adds to the global tensions surrounding cyber activities, with nations increasingly scrutinizing and attributing cyberattacks to state-sponsored entities.
