On Wednesday, Germany alleged that China was responsible for a cyberattack on the federal cartography agency in 2021, which it claimed was intended for espionage purposes. The German government summoned China’s ambassador to Berlin to formally lodge a complaint.

This accusation marks the latest in a series of allegations against China regarding cyber-espionage, with similar claims having been made by the United States, Britain, Canada, the Netherlands, the Philippines, and New Zealand. China has consistently denied these allegations.

In response, the Chinese embassy released a statement late on Wednesday, condemning Germany’s claims and urging it to cease what it described as political manipulation under the guise of cybersecurity concerns. “Germany has publicly made groundless accusations against China regarding the so-called cyber intrusion into the German federal mapping office, which China firmly rejects,” the statement read.

Germany’s Interior Ministry indicated that the attribution of the cyberattack to Chinese state actors was based on information from its intelligence services. China, however, has denied all accusations of cyber-espionage and stated that it too has been a victim of cyberattacks.

“China resolutely opposes and combats all forms of hacker attacks and does not permit any country or individual to engage in cyberattacks or other illegal activities within or through China’s infrastructure,” the Chinese embassy emphasized.

The diplomatic tensions highlight ongoing global concerns over cyber-security and international relations. (ILKHA)