China

Chinese state-linked hackers use Google Calendar to steal data

In a report published this week, analysts at Google have uncovered a campaign in which a China-linked group known as APT41 targeted government ministries and other organisations.

Victims received spearphishing emails directing them to a ZIP file hosted on a compromised official website. Inside, a PDF and some insect images were designed to tempt users into clicking.

Opening the PDF quietly installed a programme called ToughProgress, which runs entirely in a device’s memory to evade antivirus checks. Once active, the malware stole sensitive files and prepared them for exfiltration.

Google Calendar became the hackers’ secret communication channel. An event dated 30 May 2023 carried encrypted data stolen from victims in its description.

Further entries in July contained new instructions. ToughProgress regularly checked the attacker-controlled calendar, decrypted any commands and uploaded its results back as new calendar events.

APT41 is one of China’s most active state-linked cyber groups. US authorities charged five members in 2020 with over a hundred intrusions worldwide and issued arrest warrants for operatives including Zhang Haoran and Tan Dailin.

Earlier investigations tie the group to long-running breaches of Southeast Asian government agencies and a Taiwanese research institute working on strategic technology.

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ASEAN, the GCC, and China unite to advance digital innovation

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and China convened their inaugural trilateral summit in Kuala Lumpur with a shared vision to strengthen regional cooperation and integration.

The three parties committed to deepening economic ties through sustainable development, free trade, and enhanced collaboration across key sectors such as the digital and green economy, technology, and finance.

A major focus of the summit was boosting connectivity, notably through infrastructure development and expanded cooperation under China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

Key policy areas include the promotion of AI, the advancement of financial technology (fintech), and the development of digital skills to prepare their populations for the evolving digital economy.

They also expressed a shared interest in supporting clean energy innovation, highlighting the role of technology in driving sustainable and inclusive energy transitions.

These technology-focused policies aim to build resilient, future-ready economies by enhancing cross-border collaboration in emerging digital industries and strengthening regional capabilities in science, technology, and innovation.

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China blamed of cyberattack on Czech Republic government networks

Prague has formally accused China of launching a malicious cyber campaign against its Foreign Affairs ministry’s unclassified communications network. Beijing’s embassy in Prague dismissed the allegations and urged an end to what it called ‘microphone diplomacy.’

Investigators trace the operation back to the Czech Republic’s 2022 EU presidency, attributing it to APT31, a group allegedly operating under China’s Ministry of State Security. After detecting the intrusion, officials rolled out a more secure communications platform in 2024.

Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský summoned China’s ambassador to stress the severity of the breach, which targeted emails and other documents related to Asia. The government condemned the incident as an attack on its critical infrastructure.

International partners have rallied behind Prague. NATO and the EU have condemned the attack and the US Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy has called on China to meet its international cybersecurity commitments.

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Chinese tech firms thrive amid US curbs

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has raised concerns that US export restrictions are accelerating the growth of Chinese AI firms, making them more competitive. In a recent interview, Huang highlighted that companies like Huawei — long blacklisted by the US — have become ‘formidable’ rivals.

The restrictions have hit Nvidia hard, with the company projecting an $8 billion revenue loss this quarter due to the limited access to the Chinese market, historically its largest for chips. The Biden administration’s AI diffusion rule, aimed at controlling the spread of advanced AI technologies, had already drawn criticism from Huang before being partially rolled back by the Trump administration in May.

Yet, Nvidia still faces tough restrictions, including a ban on selling even its downgraded H20 chip to China. The company was recently notified that it would need a special license to export the chip, leaving it with no viable alternative for the Chinese market.

Huang warned that efforts to keep cutting-edge AI tech out of China have largely backfired, as Chinese firms are finding workarounds and quickly catching up.

‘They’re doubling or quadrupling capabilities every year,’ he noted, stressing that the performance of Huawei’s latest AI chip now rivals Nvidia’s once-leading H200.

Despite Nvidia’s strong recent performance, Huang emphasised the long-term importance of re-engaging with China, home to the world’s largest community of AI researchers. He urged US policymakers to reconsider their approach, advocating for broader access to American AI technology to maintain leadership and influence in the global AI ecosystem.

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Taiwan rebuffs China’s hacking claims as disinformation

Taiwan has rejected accusations from Beijing that its ruling party orchestrated cyberattacks against Chinese infrastructure. Authorities in Taipei instead accused China of spreading false claims in an effort to manipulate public perception and escalate tensions.

On Tuesday, Chinese officials alleged that a Taiwan-backed hacker group linked to the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) had targeted a technology firm in Guangzhou.

They claimed more than 1,000 networks, including systems tied to the military, energy, and government sectors, had been compromised across ten provinces in recent years.

Taiwan’s National Security Bureau responded on Wednesday, stating that the Chinese Communist Party is manipulating false information to mislead the international community.

Rather than acknowledging its own cyber activities, Beijing is attempting to shift blame while undermining Taiwan’s credibility, the agency said.

Taipei further accused China of long-running cyberattacks aimed at stealing funds and destabilising critical infrastructure. Officials described such campaigns as part of cognitive warfare designed to widen social divides and erode public trust within Taiwan.

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Europe cracks down on Shein for misleading consumers

The European Commission and national consumer protection authorities have determined that online fashion giant Shein is in breach of six EU consumer laws, giving the company one month to bring its practices into compliance.

Announced today, the findings from the European Commission mark the latest in a string of regulatory actions against e-commerce platforms based in China, as the EU intensifies efforts to hold international marketplaces accountable for deceptive practices and unsafe goods.

Michael McGrath, the commissioner for consumer protection, stated: ‘We will not shy away from holding e-commerce platforms to account, regardless of where they are based.’

The investigation, launched in February, identified violations such as fake discounts, high-pressure sales tactics, misleading product labelling, and hidden customer service contact details.

Authorities are also examining whether Shein’s product ranking and review systems mislead consumers, as well as the platform’s contractual terms with third-party sellers.

Shein responded by saying it is working ‘constructively’ with authorities and remains committed to addressing concerns raised during the investigation.

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China blames Taiwan for tech company cyberattack

Chinese authorities have accused Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party of backing a cyberattack on a tech company based in Guangzhou.

According to public security officials in the city, an initial police investigation linked the attack to a foreign hacker group allegedly supported by the Taiwanese government.

The unnamed technology firm was reportedly targeted in the incident, with local officials suggesting political motives behind the cyber activity. They claimed Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party had provided backing instead of the group acting independently.

Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council has not responded to the allegations. The ruling DPP has faced similar accusations before, which it has consistently rejected, often describing such claims as attempts to stoke tension rather than reflect reality.

A development like this adds to the already fragile cross-strait relations, where cyber and political conflicts continue to intensify instead of easing, as both sides exchange accusations in an increasingly digital battleground.

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Nvidia unveils cheaper AI chip for China

Nvidia is preparing to launch a lower-cost AI chip for China that complies with US export restrictions, with mass production expected to begin as early as June.

The upcoming GPU will be based on the latest Blackwell architecture but will carry reduced specifications compared to the recently restricted H20 model. It is expected to sell for $6,500 to $8,000, significantly cheaper than the $10,000–$12,000 H20, reflecting its simpler design and less advanced components.

Sources say the new chip, likely named either the 6000D or B40, will use GDDR7 memory instead of high-bandwidth memory and will avoid Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co’s CoWoS packaging technology.

Nvidia had initially planned to downgrade the H20, but tighter US rules made that unviable. Instead of relying on its older Hopper architecture, the company is shifting to Blackwell for future developments in China.

Nvidia has been forced to adapt repeatedly due to tightening US export restrictions aimed at slowing China’s technological progress. Its market share in China has dropped from 95% before 2022 to around 50% today, as competitors like Huawei gain ground with chips like the Ascend 910B.

CEO Jensen Huang noted that continuing restrictions could further drive Chinese firms towards domestic alternatives, cutting Nvidia off from more of the $50 billion data centre market.

Huang also revealed that US curbs have forced Nvidia to write off $5.5 billion in inventory and abandon $15 billion in potential sales. New limits now target GPU memory bandwidth, a key factor for AI performance, capping it at around 1.8 terabytes per second.

The upcoming chip is expected to remain just within this limit, allowing Nvidia to retain a foothold in China instead of exiting the market entirely.

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AI robots are changing the way we buy cars

Humanoid robots are beginning to transform car dealerships, with Chinese manufacturer Chery showcasing its advanced sales assistant, Mornine, at the 2025 Shanghai Auto Show. With 220 units planned for rollout worldwide, Chery aims to lead the shift toward robotic retail experiences.

Already in use in Malaysia, Mornine can explain car features, guide showroom tours, serve refreshments and even speak multiple languages. Designed to appeal to tech-savvy buyers, the robot blends physical dexterity with AI-powered natural language capabilities.

Mornine responds to voice and gesture commands, walking upright and interacting with customers in a personalised, human-like manner. Her conversational abilities are driven by advanced large language models, making her explanations more structured and engaging than typical sales interactions.

The company sees wider applications for its robots in malls, cinemas, and even eldercare, positioning AI humanoids as daily companions. As robotics and artificial intelligence continue to evolve, automakers like Chery believe these machines will play as vital a role in the customer journey as the vehicles themselves.

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China launches first AI satellites in orbital supercomputer network

China has launched the first 12 satellites in a planned network of 2,800 that will function as an orbiting supercomputer, according to Space News.

Developed by ADA Space in partnership with Zhijiang Laboratory and Neijang High-Tech Zone, the satellites can process their own data instead of relying on Earth-based stations, thanks to onboard AI models.

Each satellite runs an 8-billion parameter AI model capable of 744 tera operations per second, with the group already achieving 5 peta operations per second in total. The long-term goal is a constellation that can reach 1,000 POPS.

The network uses high-speed laser links to communicate and shares 30 terabytes of data between satellites. The current batch also carries scientific tools, such as an X-ray detector for studying gamma-ray bursts, and can generate 3D digital twin data for uses like disaster response or virtual tourism.

The space-based computing approach is designed to overcome Earth-based limitations like bandwidth and ground station availability, which means less than 10% of satellite data typically reaches the surface.

Experts say space supercomputers could reduce energy use by relying on solar power and dissipating heat into space. The EU and the US may follow China’s lead, as interest in orbital data centres grows.

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