China Accuses US Agents Of Launching Cyber Attacks

UNSPLASH/Nguy ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - China accused the United States National Security Agency (NSA) of launching "sophisticated" cyberattacks during the Asian Winter Games in February, which targeted critical industries.

Police in China's northeastern Harbin city said three suspected NSA agents were on the wanted list. China also accused the University of California and Virginia Tech of involvement in the attacks after conducting an investigation, according to a report by the Xinhua government news agency on Tuesday, April 15.

The NSA agent was identified by Xinhua as Katheyn A. Wilson, Robert J. Snelling, and Stephen W. Johnson.

The three are known to have "repeatedly carried out cyberattacks against China's important information infrastructure and participated in cyberattacks against Huawei and other companies."

Xinhua did not specify how the two American universities were involved.

The US Embassy in China did not respond to an emailed response request.

China's Foreign Ministry later confirmed the attack and said Beijing had raised concerns to the United States.

"We urge the US to take a responsible stance on cybersecurity issues and stop slander and baseless attacks against China," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said.

The detailed allegations come as the world's two largest economies increasingly fall into a trade war that has sparked travel warnings for Chinese tourists who go to the US and stop importing US films into China.

"The US National Security Agency (NSA) launched cyber attacks on important industries such as energy, transportation, water conservation, communications, and national defense research institutes in theahlongjiang province," Xinhua said, citing the Harbin city's public security bureau.

The attack "goes to sabotage China's important information infrastructure, cause social chaos, and steal important classified information," he added.