Big Take Asia

How China Is Building a Powerful Army of Hackers

Jun 17, 2025
Jamie Tarabay, a Bloomberg reporter specializing in national security, reveals how China is harnessing domestic hacking competitions to strengthen its cyber-espionage capabilities. The conversation delves into the implications of this strategy for global security, especially amid rising geopolitical tensions. Tarabay outlines how Chinese hackers are increasingly involved in cyber operations against critical infrastructure, highlighting the challenges of accountability and the response required from U.S. cybersecurity policies. Tune in for insights into the evolving landscape of cyber threats.
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ANECDOTE

China's Initial Hacking Dominance

  • Chinese hacker teams initially dominated international competitions like Pwn2Own with large, dedicated teams.
  • They committed extensive time researching and competing, showing strong determination and skill.
INSIGHT

China's Domestic Hack Contests

  • In 2018, China stopped sending hackers to international competitions to keep vulnerabilities secret.
  • They launched domestic contests like Tianfu Cup to discover flaws but keep exploits within China.
INSIGHT

China Reports Bugs to Government

  • China's hacking competition participants must report vulnerabilities to the government first.
  • This differs from international practices, which share bugs with companies to patch them.
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