China denies links to alleged cyberattacks in US targeting exiled tycoon
BEIJING: China has denied responsibility for alleged cyberattacks in the United States appearing to target exiled tycoon Guo Wengui, who has levelled corruption allegations against senior Communist Party officials and applied for political asylum.
In a statement provided to Reuters yesterday, the Ministry of Public Security said an investigation had found ‘no evidence’ of Chinese government involvement in the alleged cyberattacks.
The law enforcement agency said China had also provided the United States government with evidence that Guo, who has applied for political asylum in the United States, fabricated documents used to support his claims.
It said China would make an official request for US authorities to investigate the matter.
“The falsified official documents and the false information he fabricated are sensational and outrageous,” the ministry said in a rare English-language statement.
Guo did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The Washington-based Hudson Institute think-tank was scheduled to host Guo last Wednesday in a rare public appearance, but cancelled the event the day before without explanation.
The event would have coincided with the visit of an official Chinese delegation to the US capital for a high-level law enforcement and cybersecurity dialogue between the two countries.
The Hudson Institute said it had detected a Shanghai-based attack aimed at shutting down access to its website several days earlier.
The suspected attack prompted a complaint from US Attorney General Jeff Sessions during a meeting with China’s Public Security Minister Guo Shengkun on Wednesday, the Wall Street Journal reported. — Reuters