An international coalition of governments has publicly accused three Chinese companies of supporting cyber espionage operations linked to the Chinese government. In a rare joint advisory, 11 nations including the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Japan, Germany, and Italy have alleged that the companies provided products and services to Chinese intelligence agencies involved in widespread cyber activity.
The firms named in the advisory are Sichuan Juxinhe Network Technology, Beijing Huanyu Tianqiong Information Technology, and Sichuan Zhixin Ruijie Network Technology. These companies are suspected of directly aiding units of the People’s Liberation Army and China’s Ministry of State Security. The advisory, spanning 37 pages, includes detailed evidence of support for espionage campaigns—particularly one led by a hacking group known as “Salt Typhoon.”
Large-scale data theft and global targeting
Salt Typhoon has previously been accused of stealing call records, communications metadata, and sensitive documents from over 80 countries. Targets include government officials, telecom providers, and critical infrastructure across multiple continents. U.S. lawmakers have called these attacks some of the most far-reaching in American history, impacting the communications of senior officials.
Sichuan Juxinhe has already been sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department. The other two companies have reportedly faced data leaks, though direct attribution remains ongoing. Attempts to contact the firms have so far been unsuccessful.
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A coordinated response to cyber threats
This public advisory reflects a shift in global cyber diplomacy. While the U.S. and its “Five Eyes” allies—Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the U.K.—have previously issued joint statements, the inclusion of Japan, Germany, Italy, and others underscores rising international concern over the scale of state-backed cyber operations.
China has denied the allegations, calling them politically motivated and aimed at undermining its global reputation. However, intelligence officials in the U.S. say the scale and sophistication of Salt Typhoon’s campaigns merit coordinated global action.
The FBI’s cyber leadership has labeled the group’s activities as “consequential,” citing both the technical capabilities and geopolitical implications of such attacks. The move to call out private firms marks a new phase in confronting cyber threats, blending sanctions, diplomatic pressure, and public advisories to disrupt malicious cyber ecosystems.
(Reported by Reuters)
