COMMENT Delicate diplomatic dance over hack

• Published date: 28 March 2024
• Author: Audrey Young
• Publication title: Daily Post, The (Rotorua, New Zealand)

Some would have wanted a greater show of baying for blood after it was revealed that hackers (labelled APT40) linked to China’s Ministry of Security had breached New Zealand’s parliamentary network

But it was an internationally orchestrated response to a persistent problem faced by many countries going back many years. It was not a sudden response to a recent breach.

The response was led by Britain, which revealed last year that its Electoral Commission had been hacked by a China-linked group called APT31, and yesterday that four Members of Parliament critical of China had also been hacked.

And the United States has identified and charged seven individuals connected to the hacking of government officials, politicians and US companies over many years.

Australia applauded the UK move, said the behaviour was unacceptable and had to stop.

New Zealand’s response was proportionate and well explained by the Prime Minister. It required delicate diplomacy and he delivered.

Minister of Defence Judith Collins issued a statement backing the UK and the US and revealing that an attempt had been made on parliamentary computers.

Luxon could have made a bigger deal about it and behaved like a bigger country by making a statement to Parliament or calling a press conference but that would have invited a diplomatic crisis. His response was designed to show that New Zealand will not roll over and have its tummy tickled by China and pretend nothing has happened.

But it was also the response of a small country that is more vulnerable to reprisals by China than its bigger brothers in the Five Eyes intelligence network.

The egregious offence was hacking...