WSJ Report Suggests China Acknowledges Role in Cyberattacks
14 April 2025 · Uncategorized ·
According to a report in *The Wall Street Journal*, Chinese officials indirectly acknowledged Beijing’s role in cyberattacks targeting American infrastructure during a secret meeting last December. This revelation underscores the escalating tensions between these two global superpowers.
Anonymous sources revealed that, at a summit with then-U.S. President Joe Biden's administration in Geneva, China linked years of computer network intrusions into U.S. ports, water utilities, airports, and other critical infrastructure targets to Washington’s increasing support for Taiwan. This indirect acknowledgment shocked American counterparts who were accustomed to Beijing blaming such actions on criminal organizations or dismissing them as exaggerated claims.
Last year, the United States issued unusually stern warnings about these cyberattacks, attributing them to China's attempt to establish a foothold in U.S. computer networks and prepare for future conflicts where Chinese military forces could launch destructive attacks swiftly. A former American official familiar with the meeting noted that while statements were indirect and somewhat ambiguous, most U.S. representatives interpreted this as Beijing’s tacit admission of involvement.
Months later, Sino-U.S. relations reached a low point amid an ongoing trade war; Trump administration officials indicated plans for more aggressive cyber strikes against China. Simultaneously, intelligence officers expressed concerns over weakened cybersecurity defenses due to planned mass layoffs in the sector and recent changes at NSA leadership positions.
The prevailing view within government is that Chinese hackers targeting critical infrastructure represent one of the most challenging security threats facing the United States. The U.S. State Department declined to comment on this specific meeting but stated it would take action against China’s malicious cyber activities, describing them as “one of the gravest and longest-lasting threats to US national security.”
The Chinese embassy in Washington neither responded specifically about the conference nor denied accusations; instead, it accused America of using cybersecurity issues to smear and defame China.
According to current and former U.S. officials familiar with this high-level meeting—attended by over a dozen representatives from both sides, including senior figures from the State Department, National Security Council (NSC), Pentagon, and intelligence agencies—Chinese official Wang Lei indirectly linked cyberattacks on infrastructure as consequences of US military support for Taiwan during the Geneva summit.
While Wang did not directly admit China’s responsibility, American officials present interpreted his statements to confirm Beijing's role in these attacks. The U.S. delegation was led by Nate Fick, Biden administration Cybersecurity and Digital Policy Coordinator at that time.
Dakota Cary from cybersecurity firm SentinelOne suggested privately that Chinese officials might only acknowledge cyberattacks under orders from top leadership; such a tacit admission could reflect China’s view of potential military conflict over Taiwan as the most likely scenario necessitating clearer signals to Washington about the stakes involved.
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Anonymous sources revealed that, at a summit with then-U.S. President Joe Biden's administration in Geneva, China linked years of computer network intrusions into U.S. ports, water utilities, airports, and other critical infrastructure targets to Washington’s increasing support for Taiwan. This indirect acknowledgment shocked American counterparts who were accustomed to Beijing blaming such actions on criminal organizations or dismissing them as exaggerated claims.
Last year, the United States issued unusually stern warnings about these cyberattacks, attributing them to China's attempt to establish a foothold in U.S. computer networks and prepare for future conflicts where Chinese military forces could launch destructive attacks swiftly. A former American official familiar with the meeting noted that while statements were indirect and somewhat ambiguous, most U.S. representatives interpreted this as Beijing’s tacit admission of involvement.
Months later, Sino-U.S. relations reached a low point amid an ongoing trade war; Trump administration officials indicated plans for more aggressive cyber strikes against China. Simultaneously, intelligence officers expressed concerns over weakened cybersecurity defenses due to planned mass layoffs in the sector and recent changes at NSA leadership positions.
The prevailing view within government is that Chinese hackers targeting critical infrastructure represent one of the most challenging security threats facing the United States. The U.S. State Department declined to comment on this specific meeting but stated it would take action against China’s malicious cyber activities, describing them as “one of the gravest and longest-lasting threats to US national security.”
The Chinese embassy in Washington neither responded specifically about the conference nor denied accusations; instead, it accused America of using cybersecurity issues to smear and defame China.
According to current and former U.S. officials familiar with this high-level meeting—attended by over a dozen representatives from both sides, including senior figures from the State Department, National Security Council (NSC), Pentagon, and intelligence agencies—Chinese official Wang Lei indirectly linked cyberattacks on infrastructure as consequences of US military support for Taiwan during the Geneva summit.
While Wang did not directly admit China’s responsibility, American officials present interpreted his statements to confirm Beijing's role in these attacks. The U.S. delegation was led by Nate Fick, Biden administration Cybersecurity and Digital Policy Coordinator at that time.
Dakota Cary from cybersecurity firm SentinelOne suggested privately that Chinese officials might only acknowledge cyberattacks under orders from top leadership; such a tacit admission could reflect China’s view of potential military conflict over Taiwan as the most likely scenario necessitating clearer signals to Washington about the stakes involved.
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