Chinese authorities in the northeastern city of Harbin have accused the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) of orchestrating sophisticated cyberattacks targeting key infrastructure during the Asian Winter Games held in February, according to a report published Tuesday by state-run news agency Xinhua.
The Harbin Public Security Bureau claims the cyber operations were aimed at critical sectors in Heilongjiang Province, including energy, transportation, water resources, communications, and national defense research institutions. The alleged attacks, authorities said, were designed to disrupt China’s critical information infrastructure, incite social instability, and extract sensitive data.
As part of its investigation, the bureau named three individuals—Katheryn A. Wilson, Robert J. Snelling, and Stephen W. Johnson—whom it identified as NSA agents. The trio has reportedly been added to a wanted list for their alleged roles in multiple cyber operations against Chinese institutions and technology companies, including Huawei.
The report also implicated the University of California and Virginia Tech, though it did not elaborate on their specific involvement.
“The U.S. National Security Agency launched cyberattacks against important industries in Heilongjiang Province,” the Harbin Public Security Bureau said in a statement quoted by Xinhua. “These attacks were aimed at sabotaging national infrastructure and gaining access to confidential information.”
The U.S. Embassy in Beijing has not yet responded to requests for comment.
The accusations arrive amid heightened tensions between Washington and Beijing, already strained by trade disputes, diplomatic friction, and increasing restrictions on travel and cultural exchange. The cyber claims also follow a freeze in American film imports to China and warnings issued to Chinese citizens about traveling to the United States.
While China frequently accuses foreign powers of cyber-espionage, this report represents one of the most detailed allegations to date, naming individuals and institutions allegedly involved in a campaign to undermine Chinese national security.
