On 15 April 2024, Mr. Wang Lei, Coordinator for Cyber Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs took an exclusive interview with CCTV regarding the report newly released by China’s National Computer Virus Emergency Response Center (CVERC) exposing the truth that the US hypes up the so-called “Volt Typhoon” and launches false allegations against China. The transcript is as follows:

CCTV: The CVERC has just released a report on the so-called “Volt Typhoon” hacker group this morning, exposing a huge scandal of collusive corruption and premeditated false allegations against China by cybersecurity agencies and relevant companies of the US, the largest hacker state. Do you have any comment on this?

Wang Lei: The CVERC has released a new report, uncovering a scandal of how to get budget from the US government by making unscrupulous and baseless accusations against China. The US side has been constantly hyping up the so-called “Volt Typhoon”, with some senior officials claiming that a “PRC-sponsored hacking group” launched cyber attacks against critical infrastructure in Guam and elsewhere in the US.

In response to this accusation, this newly released report has revealed a very important conclusion that the so-called “Volt Typhoon” is actually an international ransomware group. Through collusive corruption and launching false allegations against China, US cybersecurity agencies and relevant companies have gained enormous profits for themselves, and at the same time fueled the irrational elements in the US policy towards China.

Cybersecurity has always been an important and special topic in China-US relationship. The whole world is puzzled at why the US, as the largest hacker state, is constantly hyping up hacking threats from China. We may find an important clue to answer this question through this report.

More concerningly, the US side has for the first time indicated the connection between cybersecurity and the situation across the Taiwan Strait when cooking up the “Volt Typhoon”. China’s position is clear cut, that is we are strongly opposed to the US interference in China’s domestic affairs under the pretext of cybersecurity, and will stay on high alert against US true intentions behind their practice of fabricating a topic for discussion and then making use of it to serve their hidden agenda. Any attempt to gain advantage in future scenarios pertaining the Taiwan question shall be futile.

It is in the interest of all countries to protect critical infrastructure. And it is in the interest of all countries, including China and the US, to safeguard peace and stability in cyberspace. We hope that the US, as a major power, could take a more serious and responsible attitude. The US shall not overestimate its ability to unilaterally set the rules in cyberspace according to its own will, nor underestimate China’s resolve to maintain, on equal terms, bilateral relations pertaining cybersecurity.