Germany accuses China of conducting 2021 cyberattack on cartography agency
Germany has formally accused China of orchestrating a cyberattack in 2021 on the federal cartography agency, known as BKG, which is critical to national infrastructure. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser revealed the accusation in a statement on Wednesday, following a diplomatic démarche where Beijing’s ambassador to Berlin was summoned to address the issue.
The attack, attributed to Chinese state actors based on intelligence information, compromised end devices belonging to private individuals and companies, affecting vital operations of the BKG. The agency’s role extends to providing crucial data for various state and private entities, including those managing essential infrastructure.
Faeser emphasized the severity of the threat posed by such cyberattacks and called on China to cease these activities. “We call on China to refrain from, and to prevent, such cyberattacks,” she stated. The German government’s response includes heightened protective measures against these growing espionage threats.
The incident adds to rising tensions over Chinese espionage activities in Germany and other Western nations, intensified by recent events such as the arrest of a European Parliament aide in April. Faeser affirmed Germany’s commitment to countering these threats robustly and ensuring enhanced security measures.
China’s foreign ministry has yet to comment on the allegations.
