NATO condemns 'Chinese' cyber activities endangering Euro-Atlantic security

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

ANKARA (AA) - NATO on Monday said it condemns cyber activities, allegedly carried out by China, that threaten Euro-Atlantic security.

"We condemn such malicious cyber activities which are designed to destabilize and harm Euro-Atlantic security and disrupt the daily lives of our citizens," the military bloc said in a statement.

Voicing solidarity for those who have been affected by recent malicious cyber activities, including the Microsoft Exchange Server compromise, NATO said: "Such malicious cyber activities undermine security, confidence and stability in cyberspace."

It was referring to a massive cyberattack on Microsoft Exchange email servers in March, which is believed to have hit at least 30,000 American firms and hundreds of thousands of organizations globally.

"We acknowledge national statements by Allies, such as Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States, attributing responsibility for the Microsoft Exchange Server compromise to the People’s Republic of China," it said.

NATO called on all states, including China, to uphold their international commitments and obligations. "We also reiterate our willingness to maintain a constructive dialogue with China based on our interests, on areas of relevance to the Alliance such as cyber threats, and on common challenges."

NATO leaders, in a joint statement after the June 14 summit in Brussels, had said that China's behavior presents "systemic challenges" to the rules-based international order, and areas relevant to the alliance's security.

In response, China accused NATO of "slandering its peaceful development," saying it is committed to a defense policy that is "defensive in nature."

China is one of the world's leading military and economic powers, and the West has become increasingly concerned over its rising influence.