China Accuses US NSA Agents of Asian Winter Games Cyberattacks

Chinese authorities have issued wanted notices for three individuals affiliated with the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA), accusing them of orchestrating cyberattacks during the Asian Winter Games held in Harbin in February. The accusations, reported by state media, claim that the NSA targeted critical systems vital to the event and broader infrastructure in Heilongjiang Province, impacting sectors such as energy and transportation. The authorities allege that the NSA used front organizations to mask their activities and implicated two U.S. universities, the University of California and Virginia Tech, in the cyber espionage scheme. Additionally, Chinese cybersecurity officials have offered rewards for information leading to the suspects' arrest as tensions between the U.S. and China escalate amid an ongoing trade war. While Washington has not yet responded, these developments threaten to further strain diplomatic relations between the two countries. The situation underscores the growing concerns over cybersecurity and espionage in international relations.