China’s Ministry of Public Security has accused the United States National Security Agency (NSA) of orchestrating cyberattacks against critical infrastructure during the Asian Winter Games in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, held from February 7-14, 2025.
In a statement released on April 14, Harbin police named three alleged NSA agents, Katheryn A. Wilson, Robert J. Snelling, and Stephen W. Johnson, from the agency’s Office of Tailored Access Operations, claiming they targeted systems like the Games’ registration database, which held sensitive athlete data. Beijing offered a reward for information on the trio, escalating tensions amid a deepening U.S.-China trade war.
The attacks, peaking during the February 3 ice hockey opener, allegedly exploited pre-installed backdoors in Microsoft Windows systems, per state news agency Xinhua. China’s computer virus watchdog recorded over 270,000 cyberattacks, with servers rented in Europe and Asia to mask origins. “The U.S. aimed to steal personal data and disrupt our event,” said ministry spokesperson Lin Jian, urging Washington to adopt a “responsible cybersecurity stance.”
The U.S. Embassy in Beijing did not immediately respond, though the NSA has previously denied similar claims. Analysts note China’s accusations follow U.S. sanctions on Chinese tech firms, with 2025 seeing a 20% spike in bilateral cyber disputes, per cybersecurity firm Mandiant. As trade tariffs hit 125% on Chinese goods, Beijing’s charges signal a broader geopolitical rift, with no resolution in sight.