China Hacked UK Prime Ministers' Office Phones for Years: Report Claims

According to the report, the cyber operation—codenamed "Salt Typhoon"—targeted close associates of former Prime Ministers Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, and Rishi Sunak between 2021 and 2024. While it remains unconfirmed whether the Prime Ministers themselves were directly compromised, the breach reportedly reached the very heart of the UK government. This revelation comes at a sensitive time, as current Prime Minister Keir Starmer prepares for the first official visit to China by a British leader since 2018.

In response to growing threats, the British intelligence agency MI5 had previously issued warnings regarding Chinese espionage activities. Last month, the UK government imposed sanctions on two Chinese tech firms accused of conducting reckless cyberattacks against Britain and its allies. However, Beijing has flatly denied these allegations. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated that China opposes all forms of hacking and rejects the dissemination of fabricated information for political motives. As Starmer readies for his diplomatic mission, these reports of persistent cyber intrusion have significantly strained the atmosphere surrounding UK-China relations.