China has accused the United States of launching advanced cyberattacks during the 2025 Asian Winter Games in Harbin, alleging that the National Security Agency (NSA) targeted critical infrastructure and disrupted the event. The claims, made public on April 15, 2025, by the Harbin city public security bureau, have intensified the ongoing cyber conflict between the two global powers.
This accusation adds fuel to an already tense relationship, as the U.S. and China continue to trade allegations of cyber espionage amid a broader trade war. The incident highlights the increasing use of cyberattacks as a tool in international disputes, raising concerns about global cybersecurity.
The Harbin police stated that the cyberattacks targeted systems managing the Asian Winter Games, including registration, competition entry, and payment systems, which contained sensitive personal data of athletes and attendees. The attacks reportedly peaked on February 3, 2025, during the first ice hockey game, aiming to disrupt operations and steal confidential information. Chinese authorities also alleged that the NSA targeted critical infrastructure in Heilongjiang province, such as energy, transportation, and defense research institutions, as well as tech giant Huawei.
The three alleged NSA operatives named by China are Katheryn A. Wilson, Robert J. Snelling, and Stephen W. Johnson. According to the Harbin police, these individuals used sophisticated methods to conceal their activities, including purchasing IP addresses in multiple countries and renting servers across Europe and Asia. China further claimed that the NSA exploited pre-installed backdoors in Microsoft Windows systems to transmit encrypted data packets within Heilongjiang province, targeting devices in key sectors.
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Lin Jian, condemned the attacks, stating they caused serious harm to national defense, finance, and the personal information security of Chinese citizens. He urged the U.S. to adopt a responsible attitude on cybersecurity and stop its alleged attacks. The Harbin police have offered a reward for information leading to the capture of the three operatives, though their current whereabouts remain unknown. The Wall Street Journal reported that the U.S. Embassy in Beijing did not immediately respond to the allegations, leaving the U.S. position unclear.
This is not the first instance of cyber conflict between the two nations. Last month, the U.S. accused 12 Chinese nationals, including two law enforcement officers, of malicious cyber activities targeting U.S. government bodies, as noted by AP News. In March, the U.S. and UK linked Beijing to a cyberespionage campaign targeting officials and critics worldwide, further escalating tensions. China denies these claims, accusing the U.S. of fabricating allegations to justify its own actions.
The alleged targeting of the Asian Winter Games may have been strategic. Some analysts suggest the U.S. aimed to exploit a period when China might have loosened its stringent internet controls to accommodate international visitors. Others believe the attacks were part of a broader effort to undermine China’s technological progress, particularly given the focus on Huawei, which has been under U.S. sanctions since 2019. The South China Morning Post also reported that China accused the University of California and Virginia Tech of involvement, though no specific evidence was provided to support this claim.
As cyber warfare becomes a central element of geopolitical rivalry, this incident underscores the challenges of maintaining global security in the digital age. Both nations continue to accuse each other of malicious activities, often with limited transparency, making it difficult to verify claims. The growing frequency of such incidents raises the stakes for international cooperation on cybersecurity, but for now, tensions between the U.S. and China show no signs of easing. Share your thoughts on this developing story in the comments, and explore more tech updates at technocodex.com.
