Shadow-Earth-053: China-Aligned Cyber Campaign Blends State Espionage With Targeted Surveillance of Diaspora Critics
Trend Micro reports a China-aligned operation active since at least December 2024 that compromised government and defense networks across Asia and also targeted journalists and diaspora activists through tailored phishing. The campaign highlights a dual-use cyber playbook that pairs intelligence collection with coercive pressure on overseas critics, raising risks for Indo-Pacific partners and select European nodes.