China hacked Ministry of Defence in massive data breach, it is claimed

China has hacked the Ministry of Defence (MOD), according to reports.

It is alleged by Sky News that MPs will be told on Tuesday of a massive MOD data breach, which targeted service personnel.

Investigations into the breach, which is said to have been discovered a few days ago, are believed to have shown no data has been taken.

It is claimed the Chinese state is accused of two or three attempts at hacking an MoD contractor payroll system and current service personnel, officials and some veterans have been affected by the breach.

It is claimed that mainly names and bank details were hacked, but all salaries will be paid this month.

The system is reportedly not linked to the main MoD computer systems and has been suspended as a review has been launched.

The Government organisation is said to have been frantically trying to understand how widespread the breach is over the past 72 hours.

The alleged breach comes after China was blamed by the Government in March for two “malicious” cyberattack campaigns in the UK involving the Electoral Commission.

At the time, Oliver Dowden, the deputy prime minister, announced that a group of three MPs and one peer had been targeted, including China hawk Iain Duncan Smith.

The group say they were reassured in a briefing by Parliament’s head of security that only a small number of parliamentarians had been affected.

Mr Dowden revealed the two incidents took place in 2021, and targeted attacks against China-sceptic MPs.

The identified targets were email accounts of members of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (Ipac), a global group of parliamentarians with hawkish views on China.

The MOD has been contacted by i for comment.

This breaking news story is being updated.