中国、台湾の国交締結国パラオに大規模サイバー攻撃か

【東京ＡＦＰ＝時事】】南太平洋の島国パラオのスランゲル・ウィップス大統領は５日、同国が大規模なサイバー攻撃を受けていると述べ、中国を非難した。パラオは、中国が自国の一部だと主張する台湾と外国関係を持つ１２か国の一つ。（写真は東京の日本外国特派員協会で記者会見するパラオのスランゲル・ウィップス大統領）
　パラオ政府から２万件以上の文書が盗まれたとする米紙ニューヨーク・タイムズの報道を受け、台湾政府は３日、パラオのデジタル防衛強化を支援する用意があると申し出た。
　ウィップス氏によると、文書が盗まれたのは、パラオが米国と向こう２０年にわたる新たな経済・安全保障協定に署名した直後の３月だった。
　ニューヨーク・タイムズによると、盗まれた文書はダークウェブに出回った。ランサムウエア（身代金要求型ウイルス）犯罪グループ「ドラゴンフォース」が犯行声明を出したという。
　ウィップス氏はデータを分析した結果、ランサムウエアはロシアで開発された可能性が高く、マレーシアから送信され、「中国とのつながりがあるようだ」と述べた。
　このサイバー攻撃の背後に金銭的は動機はないとして、単なる「嫌がらせ」だと断定し、流出した文書には「個人情報」が含まれていたと語った。
　さらにウィップス氏は「中国がわれわれの境界を尊重しない事件はこれが初めてではない」「（中国の）調査船はわが国の領海内で許可なく活動している」と非難した。
　中国外務省の毛寧報道官は４日、このサイバー攻撃疑惑について問われると、ニューヨーク・タイムズの報道は承知していないと回答した上で、「中国は常にいかなる形のサイバー攻撃にも反対し、厳格に取り締まっている」と付け加えた。
　ウィップス氏はこの事件は「警鐘」だとし、台湾、日本、米国からデジタル防衛強化の支援の申し出を受けたと述べた。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】


〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2024/06/06-21:26）

Palau's President Surangel Whipps on Wednesday said the tiny country, one of Taiwan's few diplomatic allies, had suffered a major cyberattack, pointing the finger at China.
The Pacific archipelago is one of just 12 states worldwide that diplomatically recognise self-ruled Taiwan, which China insists is part of its territory.
Taipei said on Monday it was ready to help Palau beef up its digital defences after the New York Times reported that more than 20,000 documents were stolen from Palau's government.
The documents were taken in March, Whipps said on Wednesday, soon after Palau signed a new 20-year economic and security deal with the United States.
China wants to weaken those relationships, show our vulnerability, and what a great way to do it by hacking our system, he told reporters in Tokyo.
This is really the first major attack that we've seen on government records, he said, a day after he agreed with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to strengthen cooperation, including in defence.
The documents later appeared on the dark web and ransomware group DragonForce claimed responsibility for the hack, the New York Times said.
Whipps said analysis of the data showed the ransomware was likely developed in Russia, it was sent out of Malaysia and it looks like it has ties back to China.
The reason we say maybe there's government involvement is that they weren't interested in money. They really didn't demand any money, he added.
With no financial motive behind the attack, the president branded it harassment and said the leak had included people's personal information.
This is not the first incident where China doesn't respect our boundaries, Whipps said, referring to research vessels conducting activities within our waters, without our permission.
Asked about the alleged cyberattack on Tuesday, China's foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said she was not aware of the reports and added: China has always opposed any form of cyberattack and is cracking down severely on it.
Whipps called the incident a wake-up call and said Taiwan, Japan and the United States had all offered to help Palau strengthen its digital security.
Palau, the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia signed Compact of Free Association agreements in March with the United States.
The two-decade deal provides the three Pacific nations with a total of $7.1 billion in funding, giving them security and budget guarantees.
In return, Washington gains influence and the right to locate military facilities across the central Pacific.