Raphael Satter
WASHINGTON, Aug 27 (Reuters) - An unusually broad coalition composed of the United States, its traditional English-speaking allies and other nations including Germany, Italy and Japan is calling out three Chinese companies over alleged hacking activity.
In a 37-page advisory, opens new tab published on Wednesday, the countries accused the firms - Sichuan Juxinhe Network Technology, Beijing Huanyu Tianqiong Information Technology and Sichuan Zhixin Ruijie Network Technology - of providing "cyber-related products and services to China's intelligence services, including multiple units in the People’s Liberation Army and Ministry of State Security."
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Sichuan Juxinhe has already been sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury over its alleged ties to the hacking group nicknamed "Salt Typhoon," which has been accused of gobbling up vast amounts of Americans' call records, including communications from senior leadership in Washington. Beijing Huanyu Tianqiong and Sichuan Zhixin Ruijie were both allegedly hit by recent, so far unexplained data leaks, opens new tab.
Previous attempts to reach Sichuan Juxinhe have been unsuccessful. Reuters could not immediately locate contact information for the other two firms.
China's foreign ministry said it opposed dissemination of false information based on political motives and that it was strongly dissatisfied with what it said was a move by the United States to enlist other countries to "smear and frame" China on cybersecurity issues.
Although U.S. officials have been complaining of China-linked hacking activity for decades, the breaches attributed to Salt Typhoon have stood out as particularly sweeping. One senator last year described its scope as "mind-boggling." Another said it likely represented "the largest telecommunications hack in our nation's history."
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