China has accused the United States of engaging in espionage and breaching security at the National Time Center, raising concerns about potential disruptions to vital systems such as communication networks, financial operations, power supply, and the international time standard. The State Security Ministry of China disclosed that the National Security Agency of the U.S. conducted a sustained cyberattack operation on the National Time Service Center, as revealed in a statement on their WeChat account.
Evidence uncovered by the ministry dates back to 2022, pointing to stolen data and credentials that were utilized to spy on the mobile devices and network infrastructure of the center’s personnel. The ministry highlighted that the U.S. intelligence agency exploited a vulnerability in the messaging platform of an unspecified foreign smartphone brand in 2022 to gain unauthorized access to employees’ devices.
The National Time Center, an institution within the Chinese Academy of Sciences responsible for generating and disseminating China’s official time, was targeted by the U.S., with attempted intrusions into its internal network systems and high-precision timing system in 2023 and 2024. Amid escalating accusations of cyberattacks between the two nations, the U.S. embassy has not yet provided a response to the allegations.
The recent claims come at a time of renewed trade tensions, as China tightens control over rare earth exports and the U.S. considers imposing additional tariffs on Chinese products. China and the U.S. have been pointing fingers at each other as primary cyber threats in recent years, fueling ongoing concerns over cybersecurity and international relations.