China-Backed Hackers Target Southeast Asian Military Systems in Sustained Espionage Campaign

A China-linked threat group has been conducting an ongoing espionage campaign targeting military systems across Southeast Asia, focusing on defense ministry networks and military procurement systems. The campaign uses custom malware and exploits trusted access paths to maintain persistent access to sensitive defense planning and equipment data. The activity aligns with broader Chinese intelligence collection priorities in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly around South China Sea territorial disputes.