China has publicly accused three hackers of working for the National Security Agency (NSA) for the first time, offering a reward for information leading to their arrest. This move mirrors tactics used by the U.S. against alleged Chinese cyberspies. The accusations represent an escalation in the ongoing cyber conflict between the two countries, especially as President Donald Trump engages in a trade war with China. While there is little doubt that the NSA conducts cyber espionage against Chinese targets, China provided minimal evidence to support its claims. The NSA and White House did not respond to requests for comment on the issue.
The claims were published in a report by China’s National Computer Virus Emergency Response Center and were echoed by the Ministry of Public Security and state media organizations. The report focused on allegations that the NSA hacked digital infrastructure to spy on the Asian Winter Games but lacked technical details.
While the U.S. has indicted accused hackers working for intelligence services in China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, it is unlikely for these countries to turn over their own officers. The U.S. has previously employed a “name and shame” tactic to disrupt the operations of accused hackers.
Chinese law enforcement offered a financial reward for information leading to the arrest of the alleged NSA hackers, similar to the U.S. Rewards for Justice program. The timing of the accusations on China’s National Security Education Day suggests that the motive may have been more about scoring a propaganda victory rather than curbing U.S. hackers’ behavior.
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