China has accused the United States National Security Agency (NSA) of conducting "advanced" cyberattacks during the Asian Winter Games in February, targeting key industries in the northeastern city of Harbin.
According to a report by state news agency Xinhua on Tuesday, three alleged NSA agents were placed on a wanted list, and investigations also implicated the University of California and Virginia Tech.
The three individuals identified by Xinhua as NSA agents were named Katheryn A. Wilson, Robert J. Snelling, and Stephen W. Johnson. The agents were reportedly involved in multiple cyberattacks on China’s critical information infrastructure, including attacks on major Chinese enterprises like Huawei.
Xinhua’s report did not specify the exact role of the two U.S. universities in the cyberattacks. The U.S. Embassy in China has yet to respond to a request for comment.
China’s foreign ministry confirmed the allegations, urging the U.S. to adopt a responsible stance on cybersecurity and cease "unprovoked smears and attacks on China." Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian highlighted the need for both countries to engage constructively on cybersecurity issues.
According to Xinhua, the cyberattacks targeted crucial sectors, including energy, transportation, water conservancy, communications, and defense institutions in Heilongjiang province. The aim was said to be to disrupt China’s information infrastructure, cause social instability, and steal sensitive data.
Xinhua’s report stated that these operations took place during the Winter Games and involved the activation of pre-installed backdoors in Microsoft Windows operating systems on devices in Heilongjiang. The NSA reportedly used anonymous servers rented in Europe and Asia to cover its tracks. These cyberattacks peaked during the first ice hockey game on February 3 and targeted sensitive registration data about athletes and event personnel.
The NSA’s alleged cyber activities come amid growing tensions between the U.S. and China, which have already seen a trade war escalate with travel warnings for Chinese tourists to the U.S. and bans on U.S. films in China.
The U.S. has routinely accused Chinese-backed hackers of targeting its critical infrastructure, with recent indictments against Chinese hackers who targeted U.S. defense and diplomatic agencies. However, China has consistently denied any involvement in cyber espionage or attacks against foreign nations.
The ongoing cyber tensions are part of a broader geopolitical struggle between the world’s two largest economies, which have exchanged accusations of industrial espionage and cyberattacks in recent years. In December 2023, China claimed to have thwarted two U.S. cyberattacks aimed at stealing trade secrets from Chinese tech firms, though the agency responsible for these actions was not named.
Read next
15:30
World news
SIPRI’s annual report, released Monday, said global military expenditure reached $2.72 trillion in 2024, a 9.4% increase from 2023 and the largest year-on-year rise since the Cold War's end. This marks the tenth straight year of growth.
07:15
Sandy Cay reef
China has announced that it has taken control of Sandy Cay reef, a disputed landform in the South China Sea, located just a few kilometers from a key Philippine military outpost. The reef, which China refers to as Tiexian Jiao, is also claimed by Taiwan, Vietnam, and the Philippines.
21:00
Trump tariffs
Donald Trump's cabinet members sent mixed signals on whether tariff talks with China are underway, despite Trump's claims, fueling confusion as market instability and recession fears grow amid ongoing tensions between the world’s two largest economies.
13:15
Foreign ministers from Central Asia and China gathered in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on Saturday for the sixth meeting under the Central Asia-China format, aiming to deepen regional cooperation and address shared challenges.
10:50
China and Kazakhstan
China and Kazakhstan have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening their permanent comprehensive strategic partnership, pledging to boost cooperation across key sectors during the second China-Kazakhstan Foreign Ministers' Strategic Dialogue in Beijing.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment