According to reports, Australian intelligence has come to conclusion that China is responsible for a cyberattack on its parliament and three biggest political parties before General Election in May earlier this year,  five people privy to matter have revealed. attack in February, China currently is largest importer of Australia's iron ore. Officials from Australia's Cyber Intelligence ncy felt that publicly accusing China may be risky for tre ties.

Revelation of Cyber Intelligence ncy

Reportedly, in March, Australia's Cyber Intelligence ncy (ASD) submitted that China's Ministry of State Security was one to be blamed for attack, five anymous people connected to matter have said. intelligence report also included references from Department of Foreign Affairs which recommended that findings be kept a secret to avoid scuttling of tre ties with Beijing, two people said. In an answer to question, Prime Minister Scott Morrison's office refused to comment on attack, findings of report or wher Australia discussed matter of cyber attack with China behind closed doors. Intelligence ncy too refused to comment.

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China refutes allegations

Meanwhile, China's Foreign Ministry denied any participation in any sort of cyber attack and said that Internet was full of ories that were hard to track. According to reports, China's foreign ministry said that while investigating and deciding of online incidents re must be full proof of facts, or than that it will just be creating rumors and deriding ors, putting tags on people randomly. Ministry said that China too is a target of internet attacks. statement furr ded that it hopes that Australia can meet China intermediately do more for interest of mutual trust and cooperation between two nations. 

As of w, China is Australia's largest tre partner in topping Australian iron ore import, coal and agricultural goods, purchasing more than a third of country's total exports and partnering in cultural ties by sending more than a million tourists and students to Australia each year. One official connected to matter ded that if it were to publicly blame China over attack n re will be a real chance to dam ecomy. 

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cyber attack

Australia in February, reportedly, revealed that hackers infiltrated network of Australian National Parliament. Australian PM at that time h said that attack was sophisticated and was probably carried out by a foreign government. He did t name any suspect that might be involved n. However, when hack was ticed, Australian parliamentarians and ir staff were informed by Speaker of House of Representatives and President of Senate to change ir credentials as soon as possible, according to a parliamentary statement at time.  intelligence ncy investigation than h almost immediately concluded that hackers also h accessed network of ruling Liberal Party, its coalition partner Nationals and opposition Labor party according to reports.
 
timing of attack was three months before Australia's election and two years after cyber-attack on Democratic Party in United States 2016 election which n h raised concerns of interfering in election but as per source information, re was evidence that information accessed by hackers was used. election saw Morrison and coalition winning marginally.

China Factor

In recent years Australia has increased its efforts to counter China's growing clout in country using certain policies that have me tre with China a victim. In year 2017, Canberra h banned political funding from overseas and ded a condition that required lobbyists to register any connections to foreign governments. Almost a year later, ASD h run a risk assessment of 5G which me Canberra ban Chinese telecom companies like Huawei from its still under-development 5G network.