- By Isaac Krampah
- 25th April, 2025
- Cybersecurity
China accuses US of launching 'advanced' cyberattacks, names alleged NSA agents
BEIJING, April 15 (Reuters) - China accused the United States National Security Agency (NSA) on Tuesday of launching "advanced" cyberattacks during the Asian Winter Games in February, targeting essential industries. Police in the northeastern city of Harbin said three alleged NSA agents to a wanted list and also accused the University of California and Virginia Tech of being involved in the attacks after carrying out investigations, according to a report by state news agency Xinhua on Tuesday.
The NSA agents were identified by Xinhua as Katheryn A. Wilson, Robert J. Snelling and Stephen W. Johnson. The three were also found to have "repeatedly carried out cyber attacks on China's critical information infrastructure and participated in cyber attacks on Huawei [RIC:RIC:HWT.UL] and other enterprises." It did not specify how the two American universities were involved. The U.S. Embassy in China did not respond to an emailed request for comment. China's foreign ministry later confirmed the attacks and said Beijing had raised its concerns with the United States. "We urge the U.S. to take a responsible attitude on the issue of cyber security and ... stop unprovoked smears and attacks on China," ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a regular news briefing.
The detailed allegations come as the world's two largest economies spiral deeper into a trade war that has already spurred travel warnings for Chinese tourists going to the U.S. and halted imports of U.S. films into China. "The U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) launched cyber attacks against important industries such as energy, transportation, water conservancy, communications, and national defence research institutions in Heilongjiang province," Xinhua said, citing the Harbin city public security bureau. The attacks had "the intention of sabotaging China's critical information infrastructure, causing social disorder, and stealing important confidential information," it added.
The NSA has been accused of hacking into the networks of Chinese telecommunications companies and stealing data from Huawei, the world's largest telecommunications equipment maker.
The Chinese government has been increasingly vocal about its concerns over U.S. cyberattacks, accusing Washington of using its technological superiority to undermine China's national security. In March, China accused the United States of launching a cyberattack on its military and government networks during the Winter Olympics in Beijing.
The U.S. has denied the allegations and accused China of using cyberattacks to steal sensitive information from U.S. companies and government agencies.
The U.S. has also accused China of using its technological superiority to undermine U.S. national security and economic interests.
02 Comments
Leslie Alexander
February 10, 2025 at 2:37 pmThis is a concerning development. Cybersecurity is a critical issue, and it's alarming to see such advanced attacks being launched. We need to strengthen our defenses and work together to combat these threats.
Ralph Edwards
February 10, 2025 at 2:37 pmIt's crucial for governments and organizations to collaborate on cybersecurity measures. The threat landscape is constantly evolving, and we must stay ahead of these attacks to protect our critical infrastructure.