China news roundup / Nachrichten 2024-02-22
Leaked Files Show the Secret World of China’s Hackers for Hire
"The materials, which were posted to a public website last week, revealed an eight-year effort to target databases and tap communications in South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, India and elsewhere in Asia. The files also showed a campaign to closely monitor the activities of ethnic minorities in China and online gambling companies.
The data included records of apparent correspondence between employees, lists of targets and material showing off cyberattack tools."
--- Was making the rounds already in recent days, but now it's confirmed to be legit material. Emperor Xi is not amused.
"The Chinese government’s use of private contractors to hack on its behalf borrows from the tactics of Iran and Russia, which for years have turned to nongovernmental entities to go after commercial and official targets."
--- Maybe. But the CCP has been doing this for quite a while now. & in China, anyway, there is no clear distinction between private companies & SOE's anymore.
"Among the information hacked was a large database of the road network in Taiwan, an island democracy that China has long claimed and threatened with invasion. The 459 gigabytes of maps came from 2021, and showed how firms like I-Soon collect information that can be militarily useful"
--- Well, obviously they do.
"Other information included internal email services or intranet access for multiple Southeast Asian government ministries, including Malaysia’s foreign and defense ministries and Thailand’s national intelligence agency. Immigration data from India that covered national and foreign passengers’ flight and visa details was also up for grabs"
--- Great. Now the CCP gets my data even without me going to HK or China.
cf.: An online dump of Chinese hacking documents offers a rare window into pervasive state surveillance
China tells ICJ justice ‘must not be denied’ to Palestinians
"The unlawful nature of the occupation and sovereignty over the occupied territories remain unchanged"
--- Tibet?
"According to China, it was definitely a matter for the UN to talk about the self-determination of the Palestinian people"
--- Uighurs?
Growth in CO2 emissions leaves China likely to miss climate targets
"carbon dioxide emissions have continued to grow, even as economic growth has slowed due to the fact that China’s economic growth during and after the Covid-19 pandemic has been highly energy intensive. Between 2021 and 2023, CO2 emissions grew at an average of 3.8% a year, up from 0.9% a year between 2016 and 2020.
[...] Under the Paris agreement, China’s climate pledges require a number of targets to be met by 2025; these include increasing the share of non-fossil energy sources to 20% and reducing the carbon intensity of the economy by 18%. Carbon intensity refers to how many grams of CO2 are released to produce a kilowatt hour of electricity.
However, Myllyvirta’s analysis found that China was “way off track” on many of these targets, primarily because of the carbon intensity of recent economic growth. CO2 emissions will have to fall by between 4% and 6% to meet the government’s 2025 target"
--- I'm sure, the CCP is working hard to manipulate the numbers so that all targets are met. That is: if emperor Xi actually still feels that it's important to save face in regards to environmental protection.
US targets China's top chipmaking plant after Huawei Mate 60 Pro
"The Biden administration is turning up the heat on China's top sanctioned chipmaker by cutting off its most advanced factory from more American imports"
--- Really? Or maybe not:
"The Biden administration unveiled new rules in October, 2022, which effectively banned U.S. suppliers from sending semiconductor tools and materials to advanced Chinese-run chipmaking factories in China including SMIC South. But U.S. rules allowed companies with preexisting licenses -- which generally are valid for four years -- to keep supplying the facility."
--- There are still numerous loopholes.
US-Taiwan: Why are so many Congressmen heading for Taipei?
Ship rams bridge, plunging cars into river in Guangzhou
--- CNA: "China condemns US delegation visit to Taiwan, urges Washington to stop interference"
--- NHK: Youth in China grapple with uncertain future
Datenleak legt Details offen: China lässt wohl private Firmen für sich hacken
"Ein Datenleak soll erstmals Details liefern: Um ausländische Regierungen auszuspionieren, greift China offenbar auf private IT-Unternehmen zurück."
--- Was nicht wirklich neu & bei der mangelnden Trennung von Staat & Privatwirtschaft auch nicht wirklich relevant ist. Interessant ist vor allem das Ausmaß der Spionage.
"Das chinesische Außenministerium erklärte auf eine Anfrage, es habe "keine Kenntnis" von dem Fall. "China lehnt grundsätzlich alle Formen von Cyberangriffen ab und geht in Übereinstimmung mit dem Gesetz dagegen vor""
Brücke in China teilweise eingestürzt
