Question: The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre has reportedly released its annual review, claiming that by 2028 it is “highly likely” China will routinely use AI cyber to carry out hacking operations, posing the “most sophisticated and sustained cyber challenge facing the UK”. What is your comment?

Embassy Spokesperson: The UK review uses speculative language to attack and smear China without providing evidence. We firmly oppose this.

China believes that the development of AI should be open and for progress, for good and for all, aim at both security and advancement, and ensure it is safe, reliable and controllable. Cybersecurity risks arising from AI are a common challenge facing all countries and require a collective response through international cooperation. China has always taken resolute action in accordance with the law to prevent and crack down on all forms of malicious cyber activity.

The UK has long politicised cybersecurity issues and is now using AI as another pretext to attack and smear China. Such an approach will do nothing to increase mutual trust between China and the UK, and will undermine the UK’s credibility in cooperation on global AI security governance. China urges the UK to change course, stop invoking China at every turn, and stop exploiting cybersecurity issues for political purposes.