Extensive Chinese cyber-espionage against the British government, which “reached the very core of Downing Street,” is revealed by The Telegraph.

According to the British newspaper, hackers supported by China gained access to the mobile phones of senior Downing Street officials over a prolonged period.

The operation, reportedly codenamed “Salt Typhoon,” is said to have targeted close aides of former Prime Ministers Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, and Rishi Sunak between 2021 and 2024, exposing private communications at the heart of British power.

So far, there has been no confirmation that the mobile phones of the prime ministers themselves were compromised. However, sources familiar with the case told The Telegraph that the intrusion “reached the very core of Downing Street.” At the same time, U.S. intelligence agencies assess that the operation may still be active today, raising concerns about the security of communications belonging to current Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and his staff.

What the hackers could access

Cybersecurity experts believe that even without direct access to message content, hackers could obtain communications metadata, such as who was communicating with whom, how often, and from which locations. In some cases, U.S. officials said there was also the capability to record phone conversations “at will.”

The case is part of a broader global espionage campaign that allegedly targeted countries within the Five Eyes alliance (United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand) through breaches of telecommunications providers.

Security services on alert

Despite British assurances that networks are now better protected—partly due to the 2021 Telecommunications Security Act—a senior U.S. official described the operation as “one of the most successful in the history of espionage.” MI5 has warned about Chinese spying, while Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee concluded that “the government lacks a strategy on China.”

Denial from Beijing

The Chinese embassy categorically rejected the allegations, claiming that China is “a victim of cyber espionage” and opposing the “politicization of cybersecurity without evidence.” Western intelligence agencies, however, describe Beijing as a highly capable and aggressive actor in cyber espionage, with the “Salt Typhoon” case intensifying concerns over infiltration of critical state infrastructure.

The revelations come ahead of an official visit by Keir Starmer to China—the first by a British prime minister since 2018—aimed at strengthening trade and investment ties. The visit follows approval for the construction of a massive Chinese “super-embassy” in London, in an area through which critical telecommunications infrastructure passes.

Meanwhile, the British opposition accuses the government of downplaying national security risks in favor of economic gains. Shadow Minister for National Security Alicia Kearns said the government is “rewarding hostile actions against the state.”