November 25th, 2024

Tech

China-Linked Telecoms Breach Generates Domestic Mayhem

By Contributor Lindsey Spain

Several U.S.-based telecommunications companies were potentially breached by Chinese hacking entities, bringing into question the impregnability of security networks.

China’s Contravention: Chinese threat actors have launched a recent series of exploitative online hacking campaigns targeting United States government telecommunications data. Peaking in velocity during the Fall of 2024, Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) stated in a Senate Intelligence Committee briefing that “every major provider had been broken into” in what’s purported to be the worst telecoms hack in U.S. history. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) confirmed that the breach comprised a broadband scope of online messaging data across multiple platforms, predominantly targeted at select individuals, concentrated in the Washington Beltway, employed in the government or political sectors. Among affected companies is T-Mobile, along with other providers such as Verizon and Lumen Technologies. 

Responsible Entity: Historically, China has denied accusations of malignant cyber activity, with the Chinese Embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu accusing the U.S. of “politicizing cybersecurity issues to smear China.” Responsibility for these attacks has been attributed to the hacking group Salt Typhoon, with the moniker commonly granted to various Chinese malicious groups by Microsoft to track their activity. Also going by the aliases Earth Estries or Famous Sparrow, Salt Typhoon first initiated activity in 2020 and mainly targets counterintelligence figures, with the group even going so far as to target the telecoms data of President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect J.D. Vance during the 2024 electoral cycle. 

Hacking Methodology: Chinese hackers are positioning themselves inside of United States IT networks in anticipation of a cyber network attack, according to domestic intelligence directives. Though much remains to be discovered, it can be reasonably inferred that Salt Typhoon utilized existing legal surveillance loopholes and vulnerabilities in external-facing servers and remote management utilities to articulate their objectives, drawing further criticism about the existence of said loopholes. Specifically, they have leveraged misconfigured QConvergeConsole installations, part of a broader suite of tools utilized in advanced network monitoring, to deploy malware installations such as Cobalt Strike, a legitimate security penetration tool oftentimes repurposed by criminal organizations. Further, Salt Typhoon has been proven to install custom backdoors, with one example being known domestically as HemiGate. The cyber manipulation tactics of Salt Typhoon and affiliate groups have taken on an unprecedented form by means of advanced hacking techniques, necessitating swift action by equivalent domestic entities to counter these profound threats.

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Diplomacy

Ishiba-Xi Meeting Creates Hopes for a New Era in Japan-China Relations 

By Contributor Julian Sherrod

On Thursday, November 14th, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Chinese President Xi Jinping met on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Peru to discuss pressing issues in Japan-China relations.

New Beginnings: While Japan-China relations have been fraught with tension for the past two decades, especially under the Japanese administration of Shinzo Abe, the administration of Shigeru Ishiba has been a breath of fresh air in the relationship. Starting with Ishiba’s meeting with Chinese Premier Li, both sides promised to “promote a mutually beneficial relationship.” This is in contrast to Former Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who had made clear his worries over Chinese actions in the South China Sea. With the stage having been set by Japanese National Security Advisory Takeo Akiba and Chinese diplomat Wang Yi’s meeting in early November, Ishiba and Xi were set to meet on the sidelines of the APEC summit. 

Warnings and Promises: With the recent news of the United States pressuring Japan to restrict chipmaking equipment exports to China, Xi emphasized that trade should flow freely, warning against sanctions. Another point of interest was Xi’s emphasis that Ishiba should “properly handle” history issues, specifically in references to tensions over incidents over history textbooks, the Yasukuni Shrine, and more. Ishiba also emphasized the fears over China’s growing military activities, urging “peace and stability” in the region. Despite the warming relations, the feeling between Ishiba and Xi may not be cheery, as shown by both of their demeanors during press photos. Nevertheless, both sides re-emphasized what Akiba and Wang had said earlier, that being a mutually beneficial relationship. 

Future Hopes and Woes: For both sides, this is a chance to press restart on the relationship between Japan and China and improve relations for a better future for both nations. On the other hand, Xi and Ishiba both emphasized the lingering tensions between the two countries, something which must be overcome before any sort of true partnership can take place. Nevertheless, this is a good sign for the region and will hopefully lead to peace, stability, and prosperity in the time to come.

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Diplomacy

Time to Book A Trip

By Contributor Varunavee Mohanraj

Starting November 30, China will grant visa-free entry to citizens of nine more countries for up to 30 days. This move works to boost tourism and business travel as part of China’s overall plans to revitalize its economy.

A Strategic Shift Post-Pandemic: During the pandemic, visa-free travel was suspended as part of China's strict entry restrictions. The phased reopening began in late 2022 when China started restoring visa-free entry for Brunei and Singapore in mid-2023, followed by several European nations, including France, Germany, and Italy, in December. The latest announcement brings the total number of countries with visa-free access to 38– a dramatic increase from just three before the COVID-19 pandemic including Bulgaria, Romania, Malta, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Estonia, Latvia, and Japan. China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Lin Jian, noted that this expansion extends the visa-free stay period from 15 to 30 days for most countries and now includes participants in cultural and academic exchanges. The move reflects China's renewed focus on fostering "people-to-people" connections to strengthen diplomatic ties and promote international goodwill.

Japan Rejoins Visa-Free List: Japan’s inclusion in the program is extra notable. Relations between the two countries have faced strain over decades of regional issues, including Japan’s release of treated radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear plant and differences over Taiwan. However, the resumption of visa-free travel signals a willingness to rebuild their bilateral ties. Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi expressed optimism, stating that the move would "smooth exchanges between Japan and China."

Boosting Tourism and Global Relations: The visa expansion is also key to China’s overall economic goals. Tourism and business travel are seen as key drivers for reviving its sluggish economy. From July to September this year, China recorded 8.2 million foreign entries– nearly 60% of which were visa-free, according to the official Xinhua News Agency. This trend mirrors efforts by other countries (like Thailand) which recently introduced visa-free entry for Chinese travelers to attract more tourists. By expanding its visa-free access program, China is signaling a commitment to re-engage with the world on multiple fronts– economic, cultural, and diplomatic. This policy not only bolsters tourism and business but also serves as a soft power tool that fosters closer relationships with participating countries. As global travel resumes post-pandemic, China’s strategic focus on people-to-people exchanges and international collaboration could come to play a significant role in shaping its influence within our interconnected global landscape.