BANGKOK (AP) — China has expressed strong disapproval over the recent decision by the U.S. Treasury to impose sanctions on a Beijing-based cybersecurity firm, Integrity Technology Group, due to its alleged involvement in numerous hacking incidents targeting critical U.S. infrastructure. This move has been labeled by Guo Jiakun, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, as an attempt by Washington to "defame and smear China." According to Guo, "For some time now, the U.S. side has been playing up so-called Chinese cyberattacks..." The spokesperson emphasized that China has been actively cracking down on cyber threats.

Integrity Technology Group, also known as Yongxin Zhicheng Technology Group, responded to the sanctions, asserting that they possess "no factual basis." In a statement made to the Shanghai Stock Exchange, the firm insisted that it "firmly opposes the U.S. Treasury Department’s unwarranted accusations and illegal unilateral sanctions."

The sanctions, enacted by the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, block the company's access to U.S. property and financial systems, effectively inhibiting its ability to conduct business with American entities. The sanctions are tied to allegations related to hacking incidents, including those attributed to the Flax Typhoon, a state-sponsored campaign that has targeted critical infrastructure in the U.S. (Newsweek)

U.S. officials remain preoccupied with the large-scale cyber espionage operation known as Salt Typhoon, claiming that it enabled access to private communications of numerous Americans. The Treasury Department revealed a significant breach, occurring on December 8, when it was discovered that hackers had remotely accessed its workstations and unclassified documentation, marking a severe cybersecurity incident. However, the penalties applied against Integrity Technology appear unrelated to this particular breach.

In a twist, the China National Cybersecurity Information Center reported that they have identified cyber attacks emanating from various international locations, claiming that "they pose a major threat to China's domestic networked units." Guo reiterated China's commitment to protecting its interests and signaled potential further retaliatory measures in response to U.S. actions.

Integrity Technology has asserted that these sanctions will not negatively impact its operations as it reportedly has no business presence in the U.S. and possesses no U.S. assets. The ongoing discourse arises amid escalating tensions between the two nations over cybersecurity and espionage issues, with both countries remaining on high alert to potential future attacks.

For further details, read the full article at (AP News).