China has accused the United States of launching cyberattacks on its National Time Center, claiming sensitive data and credentials were stolen and could have disrupted key systems including communications, finance, power, and the international standard time.
According to a statement by China’s State Security Ministry on WeChat, the US National Security Agency (NSA) allegedly carried out prolonged cyber espionage on the National Time Service Center, tracing stolen data and credentials back to 2022. The ministry said these breaches targeted staff mobile devices and internal network systems.
The ministry further alleged that the US exploited a vulnerability in the messaging service of a foreign smartphone brand to access staff devices in 2022. Subsequent attacks in 2023 and 2024 reportedly targeted the center’s high-precision ground-based timing system and internal networks.
The National Time Center, part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, is responsible for generating, maintaining, and broadcasting China’s standard time.
The US embassy did not immediately respond to requests for comment. This accusation is the latest in a series of cyberhostilities between China and the US, with each country accusing the other of acting as a primary cyber threat.
The allegations also come amid renewed trade tensions, including China’s rare earth export restrictions and US threats to raise tariffs on Chinese goods.
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