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Major Leak Exposes Chinese Cyber Contractor’s Global Hacking Operations

A massive data breach at Chinese cybersecurity firm Knownsec (知道创宇) has exposed its extensive global hacking and surveillance activities. More than 12,000 confidential files – including hacker tool specifications, cross-platform remote-access trojans, surveillance target lists, and large-scale data-theft records – briefly appeared on GitHub before being removed.

Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Beijing, Knownsec runs the hacker team “404 Lab” and is regarded as a major contractor for China’s military and intelligence agencies. The company serves financial institutions, government bodies, and major internet firms, received significant investment from Tencent, and employs over 900 staff. The U.S. placed Knownsec on its entity sanctions list in 2022.

The leaked documents show that Knownsec built remote-access trojans for Linux, Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android, enabling persistent access across a wide range of systems. Its Android tools could extract message histories from Chinese chat apps and Telegram for targeted surveillance. The leak also detailed hardware-based attack tools, including a malicious power bank capable of secretly exfiltrating data – demonstrating supply-chain attack methods that bypass traditional software defenses.

According to Cyber Press, spreadsheets in the leaked materials document intrusions into more than 80 foreign organizations, involving massive data theft. Examples include:

  • 95GB of Indian immigration records
  • 3TB of call logs from South Korea’s LG UPlus
  • 459GB of Taiwanese road-planning data
  • Password data from Taiwan Yahoo and Brazil LinkedIn accounts

The targets span over 20 countries and regions, including Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, and the United Kingdom – indicating a broad, systematic intelligence-gathering campaign.

Security firm StealthMole further reported that Knownsec conducted internet-infrastructure mapping in 28 countries, covering the Asia-Pacific, Southeast Asia, Africa, and Europe.

Source: Epoch Times, November 14, 2025
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/25/11/13/n14635466.htm

Briefings | | |   @CS Defense/Military Information/Technology

PLA Conducts South China Sea Bomber Patrol after Philippine, U.S., and Japan Joint Exercise

Huanqiu Times reported that from November 14 to 15, the Philippine military, together with the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force, carried out another Multilateral Maritime Cooperation Activity (MMCA) in the West Philippine Sea. This was the eighth MMCA exercise held this year and the thirteenth since the program began.

In response, on November 14, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theater Command dispatched a formation of bombers for a routine patrol over the South China Sea – marking the first publicly disclosed deployment of this kind.

Experts interviewed by Global Times said the move underscores China’s strong resolve and capability to safeguard its territorial sovereignty. Bombers, compared with fighter jets, possess more powerful strike capabilities, including saturation attacks that even large surface vessels would struggle to evade.

Analysts believe the formation likely included variants of the H-6 bomber. These aircraft may have flown tactical routes to warn foreign vessels and reinforce China’s red lines, potentially with fighter escorts. The mission aligns with China’s broader strategy of diversifying its strike options and integrating bomber units with aircraft carrier groups to enhance long-range strike capability and increase the flexibility of China’s power projection.

Source: Huanqiu Times, November 16, 2025
https://mil.huanqiu.com/article/4PAF86Mj7GF

Briefings | | |   @CS Defense/Military Geo-Strategic Trend

Mass Purge Rocks Chinese Military as 28 Generals Fall in Corruption Crackdown

China’s military has been jolted by an unprecedented anti-corruption campaign that has seen 28 generals dismissed, detained, or quietly disappear over the past three years, according to recent reports. The sweeping purge reached a dramatic climax just before the Fourth Plenum of the 20th Central Committee, when the Defense Ministry announced the expulsion of nine senior generals from both the Communist Party and the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).

Among those expelled are some of the most powerful figures in China’s armed forces, including He Weidong, a Politburo member and Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), and Miao Hua, former director of the CMC Political Work Department. Others removed include senior commanders from multiple service branches — Lin Xiangyang of the Eastern Theater Command, Yuan Huazhi of the Navy, and Wang Houbin of the Rocket Force. Notably, eight of the nine generals purged were sitting members of the Party’s Central Committee.

The scale of the campaign became even more apparent during the recently concluded Fourth Plenum, where 27 of the military’s 42 Central Committee members were absent — a stunning 63 percent no-show rate. Among the missing were Navy Commander Hu Zhongming, Northern Theater Commander Huang Ming, and Eastern Theater Political Commissar Liu Qingsong, all of whose whereabouts remain unknown.

Observers on Chinese social media have described the campaign as the most extensive military purge in decades, both in reach and intensity. The crackdown has also ensnared hundreds of lower-ranking officers, including major generals and lieutenant generals. Among those recently named is Zhang Fengzhong, former director of the Rocket Force’s Political Work Department, whose expulsion was confirmed during the Fourth Plenum.

Amid the upheaval, the Defense Ministry announced new appointments aimed at stabilizing leadership ranks. Lieutenant General Xia Zhihe has been named Political Commissar of the National Defense University, replacing Zhong Shaojun, who was widely viewed as a close aide to Xi Jinping.

Analysts say the purge reflects both Xi’s determination to tighten political control over the military and deep-seated corruption within the PLA’s procurement and promotion systems — particularly within the elite Rocket Force, which oversees China’s strategic missile arsenal. The full implications of this internal shake-up, however, remain to be seen.

Source: Central News Agency (Taiwan), October 27, 2025
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/202510270074.aspx

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military

China’s Type 100 Tank Gains Beyond-Visual-Range Strike Capability

According to PLA Daily, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has taken an unprecedented step: its new-generation Type 100 tank can now engage targets beyond visual range—a capability previously exclusive to the Air Force and Navy.

Equipped with miniature optical, infrared, and radar sensors, Chinese armored vehicles can now gain a comprehensive view of the battlefield. Unlike traditional tanks, which are limited to close-range combat, the Type 100 main battle tank can coordinate long-range firepower through direct integration with rocket artillery and unmanned aerial vehicles. Beijing sees this as part of an interconnected system in which reconnaissance drones, artillery, light aircraft, and electronic warfare assets operate in concert.

Until now, only China’s Navy and Air Force had beyond-visual-range strike capabilities, thanks to advanced radar systems and strong energy autonomy. Applying these technologies to land-based tanks poses significant challenges, which Beijing says it has overcome through breakthroughs in miniature radar and secure communications.

The Global Times quoted Beijing military analyst Wang Yunfei as saying, “This will be a game-changer.” Wang added, “China has now joined the select group of countries that truly possess beyond-visual-range ground combat capabilities.”

Source: Radio France International, October 17, 2025
https://rfi.my/C6SI

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military

China Debuts Bionic Robotic Bird with Battlefield Potential

At the 2025 World Robot Conference, China unveiled bionic robotic birds that highlight a new frontier in intelligent military and surveillance technology.

These robotic birds can fly autonomously, conduct real-time target recognition, and transmit images back to command centers. Once a target is detected, the system can relay information to allied units or coordinate support from nearby robotic partners. Unlike conventional drones powered by propellers, these machines take off and maneuver using flapping wings. In flight, they closely mimic real birds – lightweight, quiet, and agile – making them nearly indistinguishable from actual birds to the naked eye.

Flapping-wing aircraft come in various models: large ones inspired by eagles, nimble ones resembling falcons, and compact versions modeled after sparrows. These robotic “flocks” can be deployed across diverse terrains, selecting bird types suited to local environments to blend seamlessly into natural bird populations – providing exceptional stealth for reconnaissance missions.

Compared with rotorcraft, flapping-wing drones generate less noise and operate on unconventional aerodynamic principles, posing greater engineering challenges. Researchers continue to focus on improving flight stability, posture control, and energy efficiency – key hurdles to unlocking their full operational potential.

Source: CCTV, October 12, 2025
https://military.cctv.com/2025/10/12/ARTIOpbQHKiP4DLH0Ht1kYbs251012.shtml

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military Information/Technology

Chinese Delegation Visiting Europe Claims “NATO Should Not Exist”

A Chinese delegation visiting the European Parliament in Brussels sparked controversy after declaring that “NATO should not exist.” The remark stunned European lawmakers and turned what was intended as a goodwill dialogue into a tense exchange.

According to reports, the meeting – the first in seven years between representatives of China’s National People’s Congress and the European Parliament’s delegation for relations with China – lasted about three hours. During the discussion, the Chinese side repeatedly echoed Russian narratives about NATO’s role in the war in Ukraine, drawing sharp criticism from European officials.

German MEP Engin Eroğlu called the statement “absurd,” emphasizing NATO’s importance in deterring Russian aggression. Other lawmakers, including Miriam Lexmann and Markéta Gregorová, rebuked the Chinese delegation for evading questions on human rights issues in Xinjiang, Tibet, and Hong Kong, as well as for Beijing’s export restrictions on rare earth materials.

The meeting underscored the persistent strain in EU–China relations, despite Beijing’s recent efforts to lift sanctions and revive dialogue with Europe.

Source: Epoch Times, October 17, 2025
https://www.epochtimes.com/b5/25/10/17/n14618423.htm

Briefings | | |   @CS Defense/Military Geo-Strategic Trend

China Announces Downfall of Nine Senior Generals, Including CMC Vice Chairman He Weidong

On the afternoon of October 17, Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for China’s Ministry of National Defense, issued the following statements:

“With the approval of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Central Committee and the Central Military Commission (CMC), the CMC’s Discipline Inspection Commission and Supervisory Commission have opened formal investigations into nine senior military officials:

  • Politburo member and CMC Vice Chairman He Weidong
  • CMC member and former Director of the CMC Political Work Department Miao Hua
  • Former Executive Deputy Director of the CMC Political Work Department He Hongjun
  • Former Executive Deputy Director of the CMC Joint Operations Command Center Wang Xiubin
  • Former Commander of the Eastern Theater Command Lin Xiangyang
  • Former Political Commissar of the Army Qin Shutang
  • Former Political Commissar of the Navy Yuan Huazhi
  • Former Commander of the Rocket Force Wang Houbin
  • Former Commander of the People’s Armed Police Wang Chunning”

“Investigations revealed that all nine officials had seriously violated Party discipline and were suspected of committing major duty-related crimes involving extremely large sums of money. Their actions were particularly egregious with profoundly negative impact. Consequently, the CCP Central Committee decided to expel all nine from the Party and transfer their cases to the military procuratorate for legal prosecution.

“Of the nine, eight – He Weidong, Miao Hua, He Hongjun, Wang Xiubin, Lin Xiangyang, Qin Shutang, Yuan Huazhi, and Wang Chunning – were Central Committee members, and their expulsions will be formally ratified at the next full Central Committee meeting. The CMC had earlier decided to strip all nine of their military ranks.”

All nine were full generals personally promoted by Xi Jinping and had advanced rapidly under his leadership. Several, including He Weidong, Miao Hua, and Lin Xiangyang, had previously served in the 31st Group Army, Xi’s former power base in Fujian.

The purge of these Xi-aligned generals from both the Party and the military has sparked speculation among rival factions and Party elders, who may question Xi’s personnel decisions and his ability to control the armed forces. At the upcoming Fourth Plenary Session of the CCP 20th Party Congress, the vacant Central Committee seats are expected to be filled, offering observers a chance to assess whether Xi’s military authority remains secure or has been weakened.

Sources:
1. Ministry of Defense website, October 17, 2025
http://www.mod.gov.cn/gfbw/qwfb/16416031.html
2. Epoch Times, October 17, 2025
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/25/10/17/n14618290.htm

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military Government/Politics

Satellite Images Show Chinese Military Built “Mock Presidential Office” and “Mock Judicial Yuan” for Taiwan Invasion Drills

Japan’s Sankei Shimbun reports that satellite imagery obtained by the National Institute for Fundamental Studies of National Problems (Kokki Ken) reveals that China’s military has recently constructed a “mock Judicial Yuan” (Supreme Court) at its Zhurihe training base in Inner Mongolia.

Zhurihe, China’s largest military training base, already contains replicas of several Taiwanese government buildings, including a “mock Presidential Office” and a “mock Ministry of Foreign Affairs.” China Central Television (CCTV) previously broadcast footage of the mock Presidential Office during a 2015 live-fire Army exercise.

The “mock Presidential Office” and “mock Judicial Yuan” are connected by a 280-meter underground tunnel, reportedly designed to simulate a “decapitation strike” scenario targeting Taiwan’s leadership. Analysts suggest that these structures serve as tools not only for military training but also for psychological warfare – intended to project Beijing’s readiness and intimidate Taiwan.

Source: Radio France International, October 2, 2025
https://www.rfi.fr/cn/中国/20251002-日智库曝-中共在内蒙古扩建模拟台湾总统府-司法院建筑以强化斩首作战演练

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military Geo-Strategic Trend