China Accuses U.S. of Cyberattacks Targeting National Time Center

China has accused the United States of orchestrating long-term cyberattacks against its National Time Service Center, claiming the breaches endangered critical infrastructure such as communication networks, financial systems, power grids, and even global timekeeping standards.

According to a statement from China’s State Security Ministry posted on WeChat, the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) has conducted a sustained cyber espionage campaign targeting the center, which operates under the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The ministry said it uncovered digital evidence linking the theft of sensitive data and staff credentials back to 2022, suggesting the information was used to infiltrate employees’ mobile devices and internal systems.

Investigators allege that the NSA exploited a vulnerability in the messaging service of a foreign smartphone brand to gain access to the staff’s devices. Although the ministry did not identify the brand, it emphasized that the cyber operation represented a serious national security threat. The investigation also revealed that the U.S. attempted to compromise the center’s high-precision ground-based timing system during 2023 and 2024.

The National Time Service Center plays a vital role in maintaining and broadcasting China’s official time, which is essential for synchronization across national infrastructure, including telecommunications, energy, and finance. The U.S. embassy has yet to respond to China’s accusations.

This incident marks another escalation in the ongoing cyber confrontation between the world’s two largest economies. In recent years, both nations have traded accusations of state-sponsored hacking, each labeling the other as its primary cyber adversary. The latest claims come amid renewed trade tensions, as Washington considers higher tariffs on Chinese imports and Beijing tightens control over rare earth exports — critical materials for global technology manufacturing.