China has expressed strong disapproval of the recent decision by the U.S. Treasury to impose sanctions on a Beijing-based cybersecurity company, Integrity Technology Group, for its alleged involvement in multiple hacking incidents targeting critical U.S. infrastructure. The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson emphasized that China has been actively combating cyber attacks and accused Washington of attempting to tarnish China's reputation.
Integrity Technology Group, also known as Yongxin Zhicheng Technology Group, vehemently denied the accusations made by the U.S. Treasury, stating that the sanctions were baseless and unjustified.
The China National Cyber Security Information Center reported discovering cyber attacks originating from various foreign sources, including the United States, the Netherlands, Singapore, Mexico, Turkey, and Vietnam. These attacks utilized malicious tactics such as Trojan programs, botnets, phishing, intellectual property theft, and privacy violations, posing a significant threat to China's networks and internet users.
In response to the sanctions imposed by the U.S., Integrity Technology Group clarified that the measures would not impact its operations as the company does not conduct business in the U.S. and has no assets there. The company affirmed its commitment to compliance with all laws and regulations, emphasizing its dedication to enhancing global security.
The U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control cited Integrity Technology Group's alleged involvement in cyber attacks against U.S. targets, including incidents linked to Flax Typhoon, a Chinese state-sponsored campaign targeting critical U.S. infrastructure. The sanctions imposed block access to U.S. property and bank accounts for the targeted individuals and entities.
Separately, the Treasury Department disclosed a cybersecurity breach involving Chinese hackers gaining unauthorized access to its workstations and unclassified documents. The breach was detected following a security alert from a third-party software service provider, BeyondTrust, regarding the theft of a key used to secure a cloud-based service.
U.S. officials are currently addressing the aftermath of a large-scale Chinese cyberespionage operation known as Salt Typhoon, which reportedly compromised private communications of numerous Americans. The impact of Salt Typhoon extended beyond the U.S., affecting multiple telecommunications companies and nations.
Despite the escalating tensions, Integrity Technology Group remains resolute in its commitment to upholding security standards and fulfilling its corporate mission.
