Hacktivists Claim Defacement of Chinas Naval Aviation School Websites

Hacktivists using the Anonymous64 account claimed responsibility for defacing websites serving two Chinese high school naval aviation programs, displaying pages filled with messages criticizing the Chinese Communist Party, Chinese leader Xi Jinping, and the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).The account announced the actions on Aug. 1 local time in China, the anniversary of the PLA’s founding. Archived copies captured altered headlines, articles, and images on sites serving the Anhui and Shaanxi provincial Navy Youth Aviation Schools.Both websites remained unavailable as of Aug. 5.The programs operate through regular high schools and are not military academies. Their students are high school pupils, not active duty service members, although the classes form part of the PLA Navy’s pipeline for identifying and preparing prospective naval aviators.In a post concerning the Anhui program, Anonymous64 accused Xi of spending the Chinese people’s “hard-earned money” on a military that could not fight.Archived copies showed altered headlines, articles, and images on pages belonging to the Anhui Provincial Navy Youth Aviation School. The pages included material involving Hefei No. 10 High School, which operates the program.Anonymous64 announced the Shaanxi action shortly afterward. Archived pages from that program’s website showed replaced headlines and articles, including messages denouncing the PLA as Xi’s “party army.”The archived pages document alterations to content visible on the public websites. They do not establish the extent of the access behind the defacements.Recruiting Naval AviatorsChina’s Ministry of Education and the PLA Navy approved Navy Youth Aviation Schools at 14 selected high schools, according to Shaanxi Normal University.Students complete the regular high-school curriculum while receiving aviation-related instruction, physical training, and military-style management.During their final year, they may enter the Navy’s flight cadet selection process. Candidates must pass physical examinations, political screening, and academic requirements before competing for admission to the Naval Aviation University’s aviation flight and command program. Students not selected may apply to other universities through the regular admissions process.The Anhui program is operated by Hefei No. 10 High School, the province’s sole host institution. According to state media China Daily, 29 members of its 2026 graduating class were admitted as naval flight cadets.The Shaanxi program operates at the High School Affiliated to Shaanxi Normal University, and 26 members of its 2026 graduating class were admitted as naval flight cadets, according to a July 23 school announcement.Beijing’s AccusationIn a September 2024 statement published by the Ministry of State Security and reproduced by CCTV, the ministry alleged that Anonymous64 was operated by the Network Environment Analysis Center under the Network Warfare Wing of Taiwan’s Information, Communications, and Electronic Force Command.The ministry named three Taiwanese service members whom it accused of participating in the group’s activities. It alleged that Anonymous64 sought access to Chinese websites, outdoor electronic displays, and internet television systems to distribute material critical of Beijing.Taiwan’s Information, Communications and Electronic Force Command rejected the accusation in a statement at the time, saying its Network Warfare Wing was responsible for defense information and cybersecurity and that Beijing’s allegations were untrue.The command accused the Chinese military and affiliated forces of continuing to harass Taiwan with aircraft, ships, and cyberattacks.As of Aug. 5, both websites of Chinese schools remained unavailable. The Shaanxi site returned a notice stating, “Sorry! This site has been stopped by the administrator.” The Anhui site did not load.