China has had “deep, persistent access” to Japanese defence networks, reports the Washington Post. The National Security Agency discovered a breach in late 2020 and NSA Chief and Commander of US Cyber Command General Paul Nakasone, along with White House deputy national security advisor Matthew Pottinger, visited Japan to inform officials of the breach.
During a meeting with Japanese officials, it was revealed that Beijing had successfully infiltrated Tokyo’s defence networks, resulting in one of the most destructive hacks in the country’s recent history. The Japanese officials were surprised by the news but promised to investigate the matter.
Initially, US Cyber Command offered to help Japan remove malware from its systems. However, Japan declined the offer because they were uncomfortable with another nation’s military accessing their systems. Instead, Japan decided to hire domestic commercial security firms to identify vulnerabilities. They only relied on the US for guidance on what those firms found. Over time, Japan developed a more active national security strategy. This included setting up a new cyber command to monitor networks 24/7 and employing up to 4,000 cybersecurity personnel.
When asked about the Washington Post’s report on Chinese hackers breaching its defence cyber networks, Japan’s top government spokesperson stated on Tuesday that they cannot confirm if any security information has been leaked.
During a press conference, Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno stated that Japan and the United States have maintained close communication across multiple levels. While he could not provide further details due to the matter’s sensitive nature, Matsuno confirmed that there is no evidence of security information being leaked due to cyber attacks. He emphasised the importance of cyber security in maintaining the Japan-U.S. alliance and assured Japan is committed to keeping its network secure and stable.
