China accuses US of cyberattack on national time center

Published: Monday, October 20, 2025 at 3:58 am

China Accuses US of Cyberattack on National Time Center

BEIJING – China has accused the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) of launching cyberattacks against its National Time Service Center, alleging that the attacks could have disrupted critical infrastructure. The Ministry of State Security made the accusation in a statement released on Sunday via WeChat, a popular Chinese social media platform.

According to the ministry, the NSA exploited vulnerabilities in the messaging services of a foreign mobile phone brand in 2022 to steal sensitive information from the devices of the time center's staff. The specific brand was not identified. The ministry further claimed that the NSA employed 42 types of cyberattack tools to target the center's internal network systems and attempted to infiltrate a key timing system between 2023 and 2024.

The National Time Service Center is responsible for generating and distributing China's standard time, providing timing services to various sectors, including communications, finance, power, transport, and defense. The ministry stated that it had provided guidance to the center to mitigate the risks.

The statement also accused the U.S. of hypocrisy, claiming that the U.S. is accusing others of what it does itself. The ministry's statement comes amid existing tensions between Washington and Beijing, which are already strained by issues related to trade, technology, and Taiwan.

The U.S. Embassy in China did not directly address the Chinese allegations in its response. Instead, the embassy focused on China's cyber activities, calling them the most active and persistent threat to U.S. government and companies.

BNN's Perspective:

This latest accusation from China adds another layer of complexity to the already strained relationship between the U.S. and China. While the specifics of the alleged cyberattacks remain unverified, the potential impact on critical infrastructure highlights the serious implications of cyber warfare. Both sides have a history of accusing each other of cyber espionage, making it difficult to independently assess the validity of these claims. A measured approach, focusing on verifiable evidence and diplomatic channels, is crucial to de-escalate tensions and prevent further escalation in the digital realm.

Keywords: China, US, cyberattack, NSA, National Time Service Center, cyber security, Ministry of State Security, WeChat, critical infrastructure, cyber espionage, Beijing, Washington, tensions, infrastructure, communications, finance, power, transport, defense

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