American officials have revealed a major Chinese cyber espionage campaign, noting that it has breached several federal agencies, including NASA, the Federal Reserve, and the Departments of Justice and Energy, as well as the U.S. Senate.
Officials allege that hackers affiliated with the Chinese military and intelligence used a Chinese technology company to cover their tracks, breach targeted networks, and increase the effectiveness of their attacks. According to the Department of Justice, other targets included U.S. military networks, hospitals, energy companies, and defense contractors.
The department sought to prevent further damage by seizing three internet domains belonging to the Chinese company. Federal agencies also plan to issue a guidance warning about the methods used by the hackers, enabling affected companies to oust the intruders.
It was not immediately clear the full extent of the impact of the espionage operation; any assessments conducted by U.S. officials regarding the damages—for counterintelligence purposes—are likely to remain classified for security reasons.
This announcement highlights the latest chapter in a long series of alleged Chinese hacking campaigns targeting critical U.S. infrastructure, such as power stations and banks.
Cybersecurity issues have long been a source of simmering tension in U.S.-China relations for years, with this tension escalating when high-profile breaches occur; an example being in 2023 when U.S. officials began accusing China of breaching military transportation networks, water stations, and energy companies, with a potential aim of disrupting any American response to a possible Chinese invasion of Taiwan.
U.S. officials have expressed their deep frustration with these activities, asserting that there is no legitimate intelligence purpose that justifies breaching these targets, while China has denied these accusations.
American officials and major telecommunications companies in the U.S. spent months in 2024 dealing with the repercussions of an alleged Chinese breach of telecommunications networks; presidential candidate at the time, Donald Trump, and his fellow candidate JD Vance were among those targeted.
CNN requested a comment from the Chinese embassy in Washington; the Chinese government has routinely denied allegations of American hacking and, conversely, accuses U.S. intelligence agencies of conducting cyberattacks.