China hacks US Congressional Committee email systems as part of Salt Typhoon espionage: FT

Key Takeaways

• Chinese intelligence hacked US Congressional Committee email systems as part of the Salt Typhoon cyber espionage campaign.
• The intrusions targeted email accounts from the House China committee, foreign affairs committee, intelligence committee, and armed services committee.

US officials say the Ministry of State Security, the Chinese intelligence service, accessed email systems used by congressional staff on powerful House committees, including those overseeing China policy, foreign affairs, intelligence, and defense, according to the Financial Times.

The intrusions are part of Salt Typhoon, a long-running MSS cyber-operation that reportedly enables China to monitor US telecommunications and, in some cases, email.

Although sanctions were considered against Beijing last year, they were shelved amid diplomatic concerns.

Chinese officials rejected the claims as politically motivated.