Harbin, China – Chinese police have accused the United States National Security Agency (NSA) of launching cyber attacks against critical industries during the Asian Winter Games in February. The allegations, reported by state news agency Xinhua on April 15, claim that US intelligence operatives attempted to sabotage China’s digital infrastructure and steal sensitive information.
Authorities in Harbin have added three alleged NSA agents—Katheryn A. Wilson, Robert J. Snelling, and Stephen W. Johnson—to their wanted list. They have also implicated the University of California and Virginia Tech in the attacks, although specific details regarding their involvement have not been disclosed.
According to Chinese officials, the cyber operations targeted sectors such as energy, transportation, water conservation, communications, and national defense research institutions in Heilongjiang province. The report claims that the attacks were designed to create social disorder and steal confidential data.
Xinhua states that the alleged NSA operations peaked during the Winter Games, exploiting “pre-installed backdoors” in Microsoft Windows systems. The US reportedly covered its tracks by renting anonymous network servers across Europe and Asia. Chinese investigators also allege that the attacks aimed to gather personal data on competing athletes, with a significant surge occurring around the first ice hockey match on February 3.
Tensions between Washington and Beijing have escalated in recent months, with the two countries locked in a deepening trade war. Chinese officials suggest that these cyber accusations coincide with broader geopolitical disputes, including travel advisories for Chinese tourists visiting the US and China’s suspension of American film imports.
Meanwhile, the US government has accused Chinese state-backed hackers of targeting critical US infrastructure and government agencies. In March, Washington indicted several alleged Chinese hackers for attacks on the US Defense Intelligence Agency, the Department of Commerce, and foreign ministries across Asia. Beijing, however, denies all involvement in cyber espionage.
Recent allegations by Chinese authorities signal an intensifying digital conflict between the world’s largest economies. As cyber warfare accusations continue to fly, the long-standing dispute over cyber security and intelligence operations remains unresolved.
