Chinese Hackers Breached GOP Emails Ahead of 2024 Convention

Chinese hackers reportedly gained access to the Republican National Committee's (RNC) email system for several months before being discovered in early July 2024, as detailed in an upcoming book by journalist Alex Isenstadt. The breach occurred while the RNC was preparing for its national convention in Milwaukee, and Microsoft informed party officials about the intrusion, which aimed to gather information on the GOP's stance on Taiwan. Notably, the party's platform had omitted Taiwan in its 2024 version, a significant change from its 2016 stance, which advocated for a free-trade agreement with the island. Despite learning of the breach shortly before an assassination attempt on Donald Trump, RNC officials chose not to alert the FBI due to concerns about media leaks. The incident highlights ongoing cybersecurity threats from China, which has a history of targeting U.S. political campaigns. The Chinese Embassy in Washington has denied involvement in such cyberattacks.