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China alleged on Sunday that the U.S. engaged in cyberattacks targeting Beijing’s national time center, potentially causing serious disruptions to vital financial and communications systems. The country has increased its security warnings amid deteriorating relations with the U.S. and Western nations over recent years.
According to an official statement from the Ministry of State Security shared via its WeChat account, Chinese officials uncovered “irrefutable evidence” linking the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) to hacking attempts at the National Time Service Center from 2022 to 2024. This center manages the synchronization of clocks nationwide, impacting everything from server operations to train schedules and electrical grids.
The Chinese government claims the NSA exploited vulnerabilities in the messaging system of an unspecified foreign mobile phone brand to steal login credentials of employees working at the time center. These cyber intrusions posed risks to power networks, transportation, and even space launch activities.
Since then, authorities have responded by cutting off attack pathways, enhancing security protocols, and removing possible threats. The Ministry’s statement criticized the U.S. for “aggressively pursuing cyber dominance and repeatedly violating international cyberspace protocols,” urging Chinese citizens to remain alert and report any suspicious activities.
Western nations have accused Chinese-backed hacking groups of conducting broad cyber espionage campaigns against prominent figures critical of Beijing, democratic institutions, and private sectors. Last year, the U.S. government publicly stated that a China-sponsored actor was behind a cyber breach at the Treasury Department, a charge Beijing dismissed as baseless.
The Chinese security ministry declared, “Clear evidence demonstrates that the U.S. is the true cyber Hegemon and the leading source of chaos in cyberspace.”
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