TOKYO (AP) – Tokyo police are investigating cyberattacks on nearly 200 Japanese companies and research organizations, including the country’s space agency, by a piracy group believed to be linked to the Chinese military, the government said. government on tuesday.
Police have referred the case of the attacks on Japan’s Aerospace Exploration Agency to prosecutors for further investigation, Cabinet Secretary-General Katsunobu Kato told reporters.
Police believe a series of hacks against JAXA were carried out in 2016-2017 by “Tick,” a Chinese group of cyberattacks under the leadership of a People’s Liberation Army unit, Kato said.
A suspect in the JAXA case, a Chinese systems engineer based in Japan, allegedly accessed a rental server by registering under a false identity to launch cyberattacks, Kato said, citing the police investigation.
Public television NHK said another Chinese citizen with alleged links to the PLA unit who was in Japan as an exchange student was also being investigated in the case. The two men have since left the country, he said.
Police are investigating the attackers’ intent and methods, while pursuing a number of other cyber attacks they suspect are related to the Chinese military, Kato said.
“The involvement of the People’s Liberation Army of China is very likely,” Kato said. He added that so far no real data leakage or damage has been found, but police are urging companies to step up their protection.
Japan’s Defense Ministry says cyberattacks are part of China’s growing security threats as it becomes more assertive in the region, a shared concern that was discussed in the April 16 talks in the House. White between U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.
In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said cyberattacks are a common challenge facing all countries and warned Japan not to blame China wrongly.
“Unfounded speculation should not be allowed. China strongly opposes any country or institution using cyberattacks to throw mud at China or to serve the despicable political purposes of cybersecurity issues, “he said.” China is ready to strengthen dialogue and cooperation with China. all parties to jointly address cybersecurity threats “.
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Beijing business writer AP McDonald contributed to this report.