China spied on the entourage of British prime ministers for decades: media revealed details

Chinese hackers have been hacking and tapping the phones of senior British officials who worked for the country’s prime ministers for several years.

Thisis reported by The Telegraph.

According to the publication, the cyberattacks lasted from 2021 to 2024 and took place as part of an operation called “Salt Typhoon.” It gave Beijing access to the personal correspondence of senior British officials.

In particular, hackers linked to the Chinese state attacked the phones of Boris Johnson’s closest aides, Liz Truss, and Rishi Sunak.

The publication notes that there is currently no confirmation that the mobile phones of the prime ministers themselves have been hacked. At the same time, a source familiar with the leak said that the attack hit “right at the heart of Downing Street.”

According to journalists, the spy operation compromised high-ranking members of the government, giving the Chinese side access to their private messages.

The Telegraph also reports that the attack on the British government was part of a wider campaign by Beijing, which involved China conducting cyber espionage against a number of countries, including the United States, Australia, Canada and New Zealand.

It was previously reported that China has begun forming its own “shadow fleet” of gas tankers, which will allow the country to import Russian liquefied gas, which is under US sanctions.

As a reminder, an investigation has been launched in China against Zhang Yuxia, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission. He is suspected of serious violations of discipline and the law as part of a large-scale anti-corruption campaign.