Blinken holds talks with Chinese counterpart after Raimondo cyberattack.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with Chinese counterpart to address tensions

Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently held a crucial meeting with his Chinese counterpart in an effort to revive communication and resolve lingering tensions between the two countries. The meeting took place in Jakarta, Indonesia, where Blinken met with PRC Director of the CCP Central Foreign Affairs Office Wang Yi for 90 minutes. One of the topics they discussed was a recent hacking campaign that targeted senior officials at the State Department and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo.

Chinese hacking campaign uncovered

Hours before the meeting, U.S. officials and Microsoft revealed that the State Department had uncovered a Chinese hacking campaign. This campaign targeted various organizations, including government agencies, and went undetected for over a month. The hack was only discovered a few days before Blinken’s visit to Beijing for in-person meetings with Chinese counterparts.

While State Department spokesman Matthew Miller did not confirm China’s involvement, Microsoft identified a Chinese hacking group known as Storm-0558 as the likely culprit. Microsoft stated that this group focuses on espionage and gaining access to sensitive email systems for intelligence collection.

The incident is currently under investigation, and Miller declined to provide further details at this time.

Efforts to reset U.S.-Beijing relations

President Joe Biden and his administration have been working diligently to reset relations between the United States and China. This comes after a deterioration in ties due to Chinese military aggression in the Pacific region, concerns over human rights, and other contentious issues.

The meeting between Blinken and Wang was part of ongoing efforts to maintain open channels of communication and clarify U.S. interests. The goal is to responsibly manage competition and reduce the risk of misperception and miscalculation. Both parties engaged in candid and constructive discussions on a wide range of bilateral, regional, and global issues, including areas of difference and potential areas of cooperation.

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