---
title: "Czech Republic says China was behind cyberattack on ministry, summons ambassador"
description: "The Czech Republic said on Wednesday China was responsible for a \"malicious cyber campaign\" targeting a network used for unclassified communication at the Foreign Affairs ministry, and summoned the Chinese ambassador to condemn the incident."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "Newsdeck"
author: "Reuters"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/reuters/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-05-28-czech-republic-says-china-was-behind-cyberattack-on-ministry-summons-ambassador/"
published: "2025-05-28T14:17:47"
updated: "2025-05-28T14:18:46"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 207
---

# Czech Republic says China was behind cyberattack on ministry, summons ambassador

> The Czech Republic said on Wednesday China was responsible for a "malicious cyber campaign" targeting a network used for unclassified communication at the Foreign Affairs ministry, and summoned the Chinese ambassador to condemn the incident.

By Reuters · Published 28 May 2025, 16:17 SAST · Updated 28 May 2025, 16:18 SAST

## Key points
- In a digital duel that feels like a bad spy novel, the Czech Republic has called out APT31—an alleged Chinese cyber snooper—while reminding the Chinese ambassador that their diplomatic relations are not a game of hide-and-seek in cyberspace.
- Ongoing cyber attacks since 2022 attributed to APT31, linked to China's Ministry of State Security, target Czech Republic's critical infrastructure.
- Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky condemned the attacks and summoned the Chinese ambassador, emphasizing the serious consequences for bilateral relations.
- NATO and the EU express solidarity with the Czech Republic, urging China to prevent cyber activities from its territory.
- The EU calls for all states to refrain from malicious cyber actions, highlighting the increasing threat to member states from Chinese cyber espionage.

## Content

The attacks have been ongoing since 2022 and were perpetrated by the cyber espionage actor APT31, which the Czech Republic, an EU state and NATO member, said was publicly associated with the Chinese Ministry of State Security.

The Chinese embassy in Prague did not immediately respond to a request for comment. NATO and the European Union said they stood in solidarity with the Czech Republic.

Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said on X that after the attack was detected, the ministry implemented a new communications system with enhanced security.

"I summoned the Chinese ambassador to make clear that such hostile actions have serious consequences for our bilateral relations," he said.

"The Government of the Czech Republic strongly condemns this malicious cyber campaign against its critical infrastructure," the government said in a statement.

EU member states have increasingly been the target of cyber attacks from China in recent years and China should do more to prevent them, the European Union said on Wednesday.

"We call upon all states, including China, to refrain from such behaviour," she said. "States should not allow their territory to be used for malicious cyber activities," EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas in a statement.

(Reporting by Jan Lopatka and Alan CharlishEditing by Bernadette Baum)