It was only Monday evening when Sky News first revealed that China was behind a massive cyber-attack on Ministry of Defence systems – and a day on, it is still a mystery.

The MoD has been working at pace to ascertain the scale of the leak and damage done since it discovered the payroll system – run by an outside contractor – had been hacked, exposing names, bank details and in some cases addresses of serving personnel.

I have had it confirmed through multiple Whitehall sources that the Chinese state, possibly working through a third party, is believed by government to be responsible.

Other media outlets have now caught up and had the same confirmation.

Yet the government is not naming China publicly. There is a huge amount of nervousness inside government about how exactly to handle this publicly.

Read more:
Beijing poses ‘constant’ threat to Western cybersecurity
China ‘trying to undermine our democracy’

It appears the government does not want to say things publicly because of the economic relationship, and Rishi Sunak’s own nuanced position on UK-Sino relations.

Politics live: Shapps to make statement on MoD breach; PM accused of ‘gaslighting’ UK on economy

China hacked Ministry of Defence, Sky News learns

Government ‘gaslighting’ public about state of economy, Labour to claim

Yet that ship has sailed – China is being widely blamed, so ministers look odd, and even a bit cowardly, for ducking the question.

This speaks to the wider uncertainty – whether the UK policy on China looks more to the US, where some hawks want China to be seen as an overt threat, or looks to the EU – President Xi is currently in France – which takes a more emollient role.

Can Britain have its cake and eat it – yu yu xiong zhang jian de (a Chinese saying meaning you can’t have everything you want and must choose) – on this issue for much longer?

Related posts:

Are too many students going to university? HGV driving tests to be relaxed to help lorry driver shortages ahead of Christmas Sajid Javid under pressure for holding share options in health tech firm Gove ‘confident’ of progress in Northern Ireland Protocol talks with EU without triggering Article 16 Rises in prices of bread, diamonds, gas: How will Russia’s invasion of Ukraine affect the UK? Brexiteer Owen Paterson sues government in European court over ‘unfair’ lobbying investigation Jeremy Hunt reveals he caught cancer early after discovering mole which ‘grew and grew’ Man found guilty of stalking former cabinet minister Sir Gavin Williamson Starmer ‘right to be firm’ on ceasefire rebels – shadow minister Tory economic plan is a tough sell to voters Polls close in by-elections as Labour hope to capitalise on the UK entering recession Johnson like ‘absent football manager’ as pandemic hit, says Welsh leader