Chinese hackers plan to attack U.S. political parties, FBI says

China plans to spy on both U.S. parties amidst strained relations over the future of democracy in Taiwan, per FBI intelligence.

Published by

José Carlos Rodríguez

18 de octubre, 2022

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The FBI has warned both Democrats and Republicans that several Chinese hackers are studying their vulnerabilities in order to spy on them as we approach the midterm elections.

The Washington Post first reported this information. For the time being, neither parties' security has been breached. The FBI's objective is to provide a warning in advance given the intelligence it has collected on the Chinese hackers.

An anonymous agency source told The Washington Post that this warning comes because "the FBI isn’t waiting for the attack to occur" so they can conduct an investigation. "They’re increasingly trying to prevent."

For the moment, there has been no hacking

Both parties assured that their systems have not been compromised, at least for the time being. A senior Democratic Party leader told The Post, "The DNC and state parties have been in contact with the FBI. There is no evidence that any systems have been compromised." Emma Vaughn, spokesperson for the Republican National Committee, says:

The RNC remains secure and we have not been compromised. Cybersecurity remains a top priority for the entire Republican ecosystem, which is why we place a premium on ensuring our stakeholders have the necessary tools, resources and training on best practices so that our Party remains protected and vigilant.

China's potential spying on major American parties comes at a time when relations between the two countries are tense. The main reason, although not the only one, is the situation in Taiwan.

Taiwan, Pelosi, and Congress

According to the Chinese Constitution, Taiwan is part of of the communist dictatorship. China denounces other countries that refer to Taiwan as an independent country. After Russia invaded Ukraine, all eyes are on what China might do in Taiwan. The West's response in Ukraine is seen as an indication of how it would respond to a similar situation in Taiwan.

The role of Congress is particularly important in this regard. The Senate has the power to declare war. Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the House of Representatives, made a trip to Taiwan last August 2.

In an article published in WaPo, Pelosi defended her visit to the country, which provoked an angry response from China. She claimed it was a diplomatic move despite not having the support of the White House. In the article, the Democratic congresswoman recalls the increasingly hostile treatment by the dictatorship of Taiwanese democracy. She looked U.S.-Taiwanese relations through the lens of the Taiwan Relations Act, signed by President Jimmy Carter in 1979.

WaPo's reporting shows that China's attempt to hack information from America's two major parties is an act of retaliation for the visit to Taiwan by Nancy Pelosi and the delegation that accompanied her.