In December 2018, cybersecurity firm Area 1 reported that an elite cyberespionage unit of China’s People’s Liberation Army had accessed the communications network used by the European Union to facilitate cooperation on foreign policy matters. The hackers first gained access into the computer network of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus and its national system via phishing. After accessing Cyprus’ system, the cyber-unit was able to connect to the European Union’s internal exchange databases and access reports from the EU’s external missions, as well as the descriptions of visits to non-European countries, as well as accounts of meetings between European officials and other leaders. In addition to accessing the EU’s diplomatic cables, the cybercampaign also targeted the United Nations as well as the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations.