The Vatican and the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong have been the targets of alleged Chinese state-backed hackers, it has emerged, just weeks before talks intended to improve relations between the two sides.

According to the U.S.-based cyber attack monitoring group Recorded Future, RedDelta, allegedly backed by the Chinese state, began attacking the Vatican in May ahead of upcoming talks in September to renew a landmark 2018 deal that helped thaw diplomatic relations.

Recorded Future said that the Hong Kong Study Mission to China — a key link between the Vatican and China — and the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions also were targeted.