Hackers allegedly affiliated with the People's Republic of China have infiltrated major US facilities, including its water, power, communication, and transportation services, US security officials reported on Monday.
Among the victims of the recent attacks were a water facility in Hawaii, a major West Coast port, an oil and gas pipeline, as well as a power grid in Texas, The Washington Post reported.
The cyberattacks have been attributed to the larger military "Volt Typhoon" campaign that has been disrupting American logistics for over the year.
US officials noted that the attacks on Hawaii, a major US Navy port, were made "to complicate US efforts" to respond if a conflict arose in Taiwan.
The attacks were made months after the Office of the Director of National Intelligence warned that China is almost certainly capable" of organizing cyberattacks on US infrastructures.
What is the Volt Typhoon Campaign
First discovered just over a year ago, the "Volt Typhoon" campaign has already targeted small companies and organizations across America.
After the recent attacks, US officials are sure that the attacks were deliberately made to disrupt or cause havoc later.
Joe McReynolds, a China security analyst at the Jamestown Foundation, said that China is "trying to build tunnels into your enemies' infrastructure" for later attacks.
Leaked internal documents have already shown that Chinese officials are willing to use "network warfare" to disrupt command centers, critical infrastructure, and military logistics systems.
Related Article : Australian Government Agencies are Targeted by Chinese Hackers Using ScanBox Malware
US-China Negotiations Remain at Standstill
Peace talks between the two superpowers have been at a standstill amid the rising tension in the Indo-Pacific region.
US President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, met last month to discuss trade and transportation relations.
Talks on climate cooperation have been assured but the relationship remains contentious on other economic aspects.
Recent reports have since seen the two countries increase their presence in the Eastern waters amid rising political tensions in the region.
