China 'Stole Vast Amounts' of Classified UK Documents, Officials Say (thetimes.com) 31
Boris Johnson's former adviser claims that China infiltrated a key UK government data-transfer network for years, compromising highly classified materials and prompting a Whitehall cover-up that prioritized Chinese investment over national security. The Times reports: Dominic Cummings, who served as a senior adviser to Boris Johnson, said that he and the then prime minister were informed about the breach in 2020 but that there had subsequently been a cover-up. He said he was warned at the time that disclosing some specific details of the breach would be a criminal offence. He claimed that the breach included some "Strap" material, which is the government term for the highest level of classified information.
The breach, which was confirmed by two other senior Whitehall sources, was said to have been connected to a Chinese-owned company involved in Britain's critical national infrastructure. Tom Tugendhat, a former Tory security minister, supported Cummings's account. Cummings said that he and Johnson were informed of the breach in the "bunker" of No 10 -- a reference to the secure room in Downing Street.
He told The Times: "The cabinet secretary said, 'We have to explain something; there's been a serious problem', and he talked through what this was. "And it was so bizarre that, not just Boris, a few people in the room were looking around like this -- 'Am I somehow misunderstanding what he's saying? Because it sounds f***ing crazy.'" He added: "What I'm saying is that some Strap stuff was compromised and vast amounts of data classified as extremely secret and extremely dangerous for any foreign entity to control was compromised. "Material from intelligence services. Material from the National Security Secretariat in the Cabinet Office. Things the government has to keep secret. If they're not secret, then there are very, very serious implications for it."
The breach, which was confirmed by two other senior Whitehall sources, was said to have been connected to a Chinese-owned company involved in Britain's critical national infrastructure. Tom Tugendhat, a former Tory security minister, supported Cummings's account. Cummings said that he and Johnson were informed of the breach in the "bunker" of No 10 -- a reference to the secure room in Downing Street.
He told The Times: "The cabinet secretary said, 'We have to explain something; there's been a serious problem', and he talked through what this was. "And it was so bizarre that, not just Boris, a few people in the room were looking around like this -- 'Am I somehow misunderstanding what he's saying? Because it sounds f***ing crazy.'" He added: "What I'm saying is that some Strap stuff was compromised and vast amounts of data classified as extremely secret and extremely dangerous for any foreign entity to control was compromised. "Material from intelligence services. Material from the National Security Secretariat in the Cabinet Office. Things the government has to keep secret. If they're not secret, then there are very, very serious implications for it."
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Everyone knows classified documents belong at a Mar-A-Lago bathroom or giving out his party favors at the president's party.
I guess it would be Buckingham Palace in the prime Minister I don't know if British politics or something but you get the idea.
Allergic reaction to censor trolls. Not sure I would mod it as Funny, however.
On a serious note, I wonder how much originated in the US. And vice versa.
No big deal (Score:3, Informative)
The UK Government have said that China is not an enemy [reuters.com]. No harm sharing classified data among friends.
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Who even gives a shit! The biggest danger to UK citizens is from the UK Government not another one on the other side of the planet.
Astounding incompetence (Score:2)
It's like they're giving this stuff away, and they expect foreign countries to refuse it and look the other way. ...and we are expected to trust them with a national ID and the implications that has?
Still, there's been a lot of anti-China FUD about lately, so perhaps they're just trying to distract us from something else...
I'd like them to apply the same criteria that they use to judge whether China is a threat, or not, to countries like the USA, and label them similarly.
Look on the Bright Side (Score:2)
Re: Astounding incompetence (Score:2)
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China wants a new world order where they are masters. They also see the lessons of the 20th century clearly. That is it is far better to be the worlds hegemonic master than to try to conquer and rule it in the traditional sense. Exactly non of this is possible though unless their sphere of influence appears irresistible. To that end they can't have a island they claim to rule sitting there doing its own thing, and worse being nominally oriented to the existing global power structure.
They also rightly see
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I wonder what the Chinese Sugar Water will be called when it colonizes the world?
Re:Astounding incompetence (Score:4, Insightful)
Indeed. Almost as incompetent as Microsoft (for example https://www.cisa.gov/sites/def... [cisa.gov]).
If this is the best the west can do to secure its secrets, then it is doomed.
what are these "serious implications" then? (Score:2, Interesting)
We're hearing that for "years", "vast" amounts of "extremely dangerous" information was stolen and that "there are very, very serious implications for it" if any single one of these things gets into foreign hands.
I'm not accusing them of pushing a scare piece, but it would be nice to hear one example of some specific bad thing happening as a result. TFA says nothing.
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Very true. It seems quite unlikely that the UK government has any information that China doesn't already know or couldn't easily obtain.
'“What I’m saying is that some Strap stuff was compromised and vast amounts of data classified as extremely secret and extremely dangerous for any foreign entity to control was compromised.
'“Material from intelligence services. Material from the National Security Secretariat in the Cabinet Office. Things the government has to keep secret. If they’re
Re: what are these "serious implications" then? (Score:3)
So the UK has crappy IT security (Score:2)
And needs years to find out they have gotten compromised. Yep, that sounds like China's fault.
Re: So the UK has crappy IT security (Score:3)
Re: So the UK has crappy IT security (Score:2)
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Indeed. As if being "morally" right would undo the damage. If that were true, we would not need bank-vaults either. The stupidity of some people is really limitless.
"Officials" (Score:4, Interesting)
Dominic Cummings is not, and never has been, an "official". He was a special advisor to the Buffoon in Chief during his premiership. He was never a civil servant nor elected as a minister and as Mr. Moore points out above is best known for breaking COVID lockdown rules and giving the most absolutely fucking incredible* explanation I've ever heard. Well, that and being responsible for the first use of the word "cunt" in a select committee hearing that I know of.
* The traditional sense of the word. In fact it was sort of meta-incredible; not only was his excuse (that he drove a hundred miles to check his eyesight) hard to believe, it's also beggars belief that he expected anyone to fall for it.
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Yes as British farces go that was a classic. Hence forth he shall be known as the Cunt Cummings. We have an honours list, we really should have a dishonours list by now.
Can you see Bojo doing a comeback tour and give Nigel a run for his money, I cant see his ego serving under that old fraud?
Though, as soon as his money runs out I expect Bojo will be back at the trough for whoever looks like they pay the most.
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Dominic Cummings is not, and never has been, an "official". He was a special advisor to the Buffoon in Chief during his premiership. He was never a civil servant nor elected as a minister and as Mr. Moore points out above is best known for breaking COVID lockdown rules and giving the most absolutely fucking incredible* explanation I've ever heard. Well, that and being responsible for the first use of the word "cunt" in a select committee hearing that I know of.
* The traditional sense of the word. In fact it was sort of meta-incredible; not only was his excuse (that he drove a hundred miles to check his eyesight) hard to believe, it's also beggars belief that he expected anyone to fall for it.
Splitting hairs, I know...But your message sparked the question' if not a civil servant, what are they. But they are indeed: Spads are a specific kind of political adviser first introduced in 1964. They are appointed as temporary civil servants and work in government. According to https://www.instituteforgovern... [institutef...ent.org.uk]
Cummings isn't reliable (Score:2)
He was sacked by Boris Johnson, someone who was himself sacked several times for lying.
The Cabinet Office [bbc.co.uk] has rejected Cummings' claims.
No surprise, I know first hand how Chinese operate (Score:2, Interesting)
Government Backdoor (Score:3)
These are the people who want a government backdoor into your data. Because terrorists and children.
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These are the people who want a government backdoor into your data. Because terrorists and children.
One could read that statement to mean the Chinese via the UK want access.