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China Pursues Alleged US Operatives Over Cyberattacks During Asian Games

Taipei, Taiwan (AP) - In a significant development, China has announced its pursuit of three alleged U.S. operatives accused of carrying out cyberattacks on Chinese infrastructure during the Asian Games held in Harbin, a city in Heilongjiang province, in February. The Harbin police headquarters released a notice naming Katheryn A. Wilson, Robert J. Snelling, and Stephen W. Johnson as the suspects, stating that they worked through the National Security Agency (NSA).

The police did not provide any information on how they obtained the names of the alleged operatives or their current whereabouts. However, they confirmed that the attacks targeted critical infrastructure in Harbin, including energy, transportation, water resources, telecommunications, and defense research institutions. The hackers also launched cyberattacks against Chinese technology company Huawei, according to Xinhua News Agency.

The report claimed that the NSA transmitted unknown encrypted data packets to specific devices running Microsoft Windows operating systems within Heilongjiang province, causing "serious harm" to China's critical infrastructure, national defense, finance, society, production, and personal information security of Chinese citizens. The attacks were described as "extremely malicious."

"China has expressed its concerns to the U.S. side through various means regarding the U.S. cyberattacks on China's critical infrastructure," said Lin Jian, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson. "We urge the U.S. to adopt a responsible attitude on cybersecurity issues, stop cyberattacks on China, and cease unwarranted smears and attacks on China." China will continue to take necessary measures to protect its cybersecurity.

The alleged attacks on Chinese infrastructure during the Asian Games have sparked renewed tensions between the two nations. The U.S. and China have long accused each other of cyberattacks, with the U.S. also naming Chinese individuals who worked for military hacking units. Just last month, the Justice Department and others announced coordinated efforts to disrupt and deter malicious cyber activities by 12 Chinese nationals, including two law enforcement officers.

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence recently called China "the most active and persistent cyber threat to U.S. government, private-sector, and critical infrastructure networks." The pursuit of alleged U.S. operatives over cyberattacks during the Asian Games highlights the ongoing rivalry between the two nations in the realm of cybersecurity.

The motives behind the alleged attacks on Chinese infrastructure during the Asian Games are not entirely clear. However, it is speculated that the timing was chosen to coincide with China's easing of strict internet controls during the competition. The U.S. Embassy in Beijing has not yet responded to messages seeking comment.