China accuses US launching advanced cyberattacks

Authorities in Harbin, a city in northeastern China, have accused the United States’ National Security Agency (NSA) of orchestrating “advanced” cyberattacks targeting key sectors during February’s Asian Winter Games. The accusations were made public in a report by the state-run Xinhua news agency on Tuesday.

According to Harbin police, the alleged cyber operations were aimed at disrupting essential industries including energy, transportation, communications, water systems, and national defense research in Heilongjiang province. The attacks reportedly sought to compromise China’s critical information infrastructure, incite public disorder, and extract confidential data.

Three individuals—Katheryn A. Wilson, Robert J. Snelling, and Stephen W. Johnson—were identified as NSA agents and have been added to China’s wanted list. Xinhua also claimed these operatives were involved in previous cyberattacks against Huawei and other Chinese firms.

The report additionally linked the University of California and Virginia Tech to the cyber activities, although it did not clarify the nature of their alleged involvement.

Xinhua reported that the NSA’s operations included activating hidden backdoors in Microsoft Windows systems used in the region. To conceal their tracks, the NSA allegedly rented servers across Europe and Asia and used international IP addresses. The agency is also accused of attempting to access personal data of athletes participating in the games, particularly during a peak in activity starting February 3—the date of the first ice hockey match.

These accusations come amid escalating U.S.-China tensions marked by trade disputes, diplomatic friction, and cyberwarfare claims. While Washington regularly points to Chinese state-backed hackers targeting U.S. infrastructure and agencies, Beijing has increasingly countered with its own allegations. Last month, the U.S. charged multiple Chinese hackers with targeting American defense and government agencies, while China maintains that it is not involved in international cyber espionage.