The government formally accused them of carrying out cyber attacks against the National Time Service Center, the body responsible for regulating and synchronizing all the country’s clocks. According to the complaint, the invasions would have occurred between 2022 and 2024 and represent a serious threat to Chinese national security.
An attack on this central body would have the potential to destabilize the entire Chinese infrastructure. As it has a single time zone (Beijing time) for its entire vast territory, essential activities such as transport (trains and airports), agriculture and urban life depend on the precise synchronization provided by the center. A malfunction, therefore, could cause a ripple effect across several critical sectors of the nation.
The accusation comes within a context of growing animosity and distrust between the two largest world powers, which are already fighting a tariff war. Espionage and cyberattacks are a constant battleground, with Western countries such as the United Kingdom and Germany frequently accusing Beijing of espionage, allegations the Chinese government denies.
In turn, the United States also denied the accusations made by China. The exchange of accusations increases diplomatic tension between the two countries, which may have a meeting between their leaders in South Korea, during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting.
*With information from Luca Bassani
*Report produced with the help of AI
