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The Philippines appeal to Chinese government over China-based hackers
Hackers from China targeted Philippine government websites and email systems, prompting Manila to seek assistance from the government in Beijing.
FILE PHOTO: Computer code is seen on a screen above a Chinese flag in this July 12, 2017 illustration photo. REUTERS/Thomas White/Illustration/File Photo
Hackers based in China made unsuccessful attempts to infiltrate the websites and email systems of the Philippine president and government agencies, including one dedicated to maritime security, according to the government in Manila.
Renato Paraiso, a spokesperson for the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), disclosed on DWPM radio that targets of the hacking attempts in January included the mailboxes of DICT, the website of National Coast Watch, and the personal website of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Hackers were based in China according to IP
Paraiso emphasized that while they refrain from attributing these attacks to any specific state, they were able to trace the hackers back to China using internet protocol addresses, specifically identifying the involvement of Chinese state-owned Unicom.
“We are appealing to the Chinese government to assist us in preventing further attacks,” Paraiso stated, noting that Unicom and the Chinese embassy in Manila had not responded to requests for comment at the time of the report. These cyber attacks were uncovered amidst escalating tensions with China, particularly concerning disputed territories in the South China Sea.
5 year plan to counter cyber attacks
To bolster its cyber defences against such threats, the Philippines is actively developing a five-year cybersecurity strategy. The military announced plans to establish a cyber command last year as part of its efforts to counter cyber attacks and digital crimes.
In a statement issued late on Monday, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Manila reiterated China’s firm opposition to cyberattacks, emphasizing that the Chinese government actively cracks down on such activities in accordance with the law, and prohibits any individual or country from conducting cyber attacks or other illegal activities within Chinese territory or through Chinese infrastructure.
