China Denies Involvement in German Cyber Attack Allegations

China's embassy in Berlin has denied German accusations of a 2021 cyberattack on its federal cartography agency, calling the claims 'anti-China political manipulation.' Germany joins several other nations alleging Chinese cyber-espionage. China maintains it opposes all forms of cyberattacks and counters such allegations with firm denials.

China's embassy in Berlin on Thursday dismissed groundless German charges that Beijing was behind a cyberattack on a German government agency in 2021, accusing it of 'anti-China political manipulation'.

On Wednesday, Germany alleged that China was behind a 2021 cyberattack on the federal cartography agency for espionage purposes and summoned Beijing's ambassador in Berlin to lodge a complaint. It was the latest country to accuse China of cyber-espionage, following similar accusations by the United States, Britain, Canada, the Netherlands, Philippines, and New Zealand. China denies any such action.

A Chinese embassy statement released late on Wednesday said, 'Germany has publicly made groundless accusations against China on the grounds of the so-called cyber intrusion into the German federal mapping office, which China has firmly rejected and lodged solemn representations with the German side.' 'China urges Germany to stop engaging in anti-China political manipulation and public opinion smears under the pretext of cyber security issues.'

Germany's Interior Ministry said on Wednesday the government attributed responsibility for the cyberattack to Chinese state actors based on information from its intelligence services. China has repeatedly denied all such accusations against it and has said it has also been the victim of cyberattacks.

'China resolutely opposes and cracks down on all forms of hacker attacks and does not allow any country or individual to engage in cyber attacks and other illegal activities within the territory of China or using China's infrastructure,' the Chinese embassy statement said.

(With inputs from agencies.)