In a rare and highly publicized move, China has accused the United States of launching cyberattacks against the 2025 Asian Winter Games, saying the attacks were orchestrated by America’s National Security Agency (NSA) and designed to compromise critical Chinese infrastructure and disrupt the international event.

Allegations Tied to NSA’s Cyber Operations

Chinese officials said the cyberattacks were carried out by three individuals allegedly connected to the NSA’s Tailored Access Operations (TAO) office, a division known for cyber-intelligence gathering. The individuals named were Katheryn A. Wilson, Robert J. Snelling, and Stephen W. Johnson. According to China’s police, all three were responsible for “repeatedly” attacking China’s “key information infrastructure,” including communications systems, transportation networks, water control systems, and institutions linked to national defense research.

The attacks reportedly took place between January 26 and February 14, targeting the Asian Winter Games held in the northeastern city of Harbin. China’s Cybersecurity Center stated that over 270,000 cyberattacks were recorded during that period, with about 171,000 traced back to the United States.

The Chinese public security bureau in Harbin said the U.S. agents were also involved in cyberattacks against Chinese companies like Huawei. Officials claimed that the cyber operatives “activated specific pre-installed backdoors” in Microsoft Windows systems to penetrate devices used in the event and other sectors across Heilongjiang province.

Suspected Involvement of U.S. Universities

In a surprising development, China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency reported that the University of California and Virginia Tech were also suspected of being part of the operation. The report did not specify how these institutions were involved but claimed that investigators had “uncovered evidence” linking them to the attacks.

Virginia Tech issued a strong denial, saying it “does not engage in cyberattacks” and had “found no evidence that supports the Chinese allegations.” The University of California declined to comment.

China’s Pushback on U.S. Accusations

The Chinese Foreign Ministry held a press briefing where spokesman Lin Jian stated that the attacks on the Winter Games were of a “particularly egregious nature.” He said, “We urge the U.S. side to adopt a responsible attitude on cybersecurity issues, stop its cyberattacks against China, and cease its unwarranted smears and attacks on China.”

According to Lin, China had raised concerns with the United States “in various ways,” but the alleged attacks on the Harbin Games crossed a line. Chinese authorities also announced a reward for any information that could help arrest the three named individuals, promising to “seriously crack down on cyberattacks and the theft of state secrets against China by foreign forces.”

U.S. Government Responds

The United States government dismissed the allegations. NSA representatives declined to issue a statement, but the White House responded sharply. National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes said, “The Chinese Communist Party needs to stop with these fabrications.” He added, “Beijing is engaged in false equivalence to excuse its own bad acts in cyberspace.”

The U.S. has consistently accused Chinese state-backed hackers of engaging in cyberattacks against American institutions. Last month, the Biden administration unsealed indictments against several Chinese individuals who allegedly targeted the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency, the Department of Commerce, and the foreign ministries of countries like South Korea, Taiwan, and India.

The accusations come at a time of heightened tension between the two global powers. Since President Donald Trump returned to office, his administration has imposed strict tariffs on Chinese imports, adding pressure to an already strained relationship. In response, Beijing has begun pushing back more aggressively, portraying itself as a target of U.S. hostility.

Bethany Allen, who leads China research at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, said China’s move should not be seen as simple retaliation for tariffs. “This move by Beijing should not be viewed as retaliation for tariffs specifically,” she said, “but rather as a response to what Chinese leaders see as increasingly aggressive U.S. efforts to undercut Chinese interests.”

Chinese authorities have started to speak more openly about what they claim are U.S. cyber intrusions. In December, Beijing said it had detected two cyberattacks from the United States that were aimed at stealing trade secrets from Chinese tech firms. While the agency responsible was not named, the announcement suggested a broader Chinese strategy of exposing alleged U.S. cyber activities.

This is one of the first times China has publicly and directly accused the NSA by name. The naming of individual agents, along with wanted notices and threats of severe punishment under Chinese espionage laws, marks a sharp escalation in how Beijing handles these disputes. Chinese law allows life imprisonment or even execution for those convicted of espionage.

In March, China’s Ministry of State Security sentenced a former engineer to death for leaking state secrets to a foreign power. The Chinese government’s recent actions appear to be part of a larger campaign to portray itself as a victim of Western espionage rather than a perpetrator.

ACZ Editor: This was definitely not a concerted effort by a U.S. intelligence agency, covert action of that sort must be approved by the President himself. This is too petty a move to be an operation approved at that level. If it is from a U.S. intelligence agency, those people should be fired immediately, since the Winter Games have essentially no intelligence value.

It could possibly be a student at a university, or the usual rogue characters, perhaps even acting through a zombie machine at a university.