The British military’s payments system has been likely compromised by a “malign actor,” as stated by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Tuesday.
This statement followed reports suggesting China had accessed a database with personal details of the armed forces members.
Media outlets, including the BBC, have identified China as the perpetrator behind the cyberattack targeting the payroll system of the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
This system held crucial information such as names and bank details of personnel from the Royal Navy, Army, and Royal Air Force.
Despite these accusations, Beijing has denied any involvement, dismissing the allegations as politically motivated slander.
Sunak, addressing the media during a visit to a soccer academy in London, did not comment directly on China’s involvement but confirmed the security breach.
He reassured the public about the MoD’s swift response, which included taking the compromised network offline and providing support to the affected individuals.
Sunak’s office mentioned that the contracted company managing the database is currently under a security review to ensure appropriate measures are taken.
Defence Minister Grant Shapps, in a statement to parliament, expressed confidence that no data was stolen and highlighted potential shortcomings by the contractor, which also serves other government sectors.
Shapps did not dismiss the possibility of a foreign state’s involvement.
In response to the U.K.’s allegations, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian criticized the British politicians’ remarks as “absurd,” firmly opposing all forms of cyberattacks and rejecting the notion of using cybersecurity issues to defame other nations.
The incident has added tension to the already strained U.K.-China relations, which have seen disputes over cybersecurity.
Earlier, the U.K. accused Chinese hackers and entities of conducting significant cyberattacks, including those targeting British lawmakers critical of China and the nation’s electoral watchdog.
As Britain heads towards a national election later in the year, the rhetoric around the threat posed by China’s alleged espionage activities has intensified among British politicians.