UPDATE 2 - Czech Republic holds China responsible for cyberattacks on Foreign Ministry’s network

UPDATES WITH STATEMENT FROM UK, MINOR EDITS

By Ahmet Gencturk and Burak Bir

ATHENS/LONDON (AA) - The Czech Republic on Wednesday held China responsible for cyberattacks on its Foreign Ministry’s network.

Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said they have determined that the most recent attack on the ministry’s network came from Chinese hackers.

“I have summoned the Chinese ambassador to make the Chinese side understand that such activities have serious implications for bilateral relations,” on X.

China has not yet responded to the allegations.

Also commenting on the development, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said: “Today, the EU holds a Chinese state-backed actor responsible for a malicious cyber campaign targeting Czechia.”

“This is a clear and unacceptable violation of international norms,” she added.

Moreover, NATO North Atlantic Council, the alliance's principal political decision-making body, expressed solidarity with the Czech Republic.

"We strongly condemn malicious cyber activities intended to undermine our national security, democratic institutions and critical infrastructure. The malicious cyber activity targeting the Czech Republic underscores that cyberspace is contested at all times. We observe with increasing concern the growing pattern of malicious cyber activities stemming from the People’s Republic of China," the statement read.

Germany, Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, and the UK also issued statements on X, expressing solidarity with the Czech Republic and condemning the attacks.

In a statement, the British Foreign Office said the announcement from the Czech Republic, which identified malicious cyber activity from China state-backed actors, is "highly concerning."

"We have consistently made clear to the Chinese government that the targeting of democratic institutions is completely unacceptable," it said.

*The Foreign Office said that the UK will continue to work with its allies "to hold China and other state actors accountable" for their actions in cyberspace.