In an alarming development that underscores the escalating cyber warfare capabilities of Beijing, Chinese military operatives have successfully infiltrated more than 20 major American suppliers, including a water utility in Hawaii and at least one oil and gas pipeline. This strategic move by China’s military is seen as a prelude to potential societal chaos in the event of a conflict, particularly with tensions over Taiwan reaching a boiling point.
The recent cyber espionage campaign, codenamed Volt Typhoon, has bypassed sophisticated cybersecurity measures by exploiting the vulnerabilities of junior employees. By intercepting passwords and log-ins, Chinese hackers have positioned themselves within critical US infrastructure, effectively sitting on a stockpile of strategic vulnerabilities that could be exploited to disrupt or destroy these systems during a conflict.
AMERICA IS UNDER CYBER ATTACK! 🚨🚨🚨
Do you remember some months back when a video emerged of WEF Overlord Klaus Schwab saying that the next threat will be much worse than COVID???
He was referring to CYBER ATTACKS.
Today, it’s being reported that PLO Chinese Army hackers… pic.twitter.com/SvqGNjPehw
— The Patriot Voice (@TPV_John) December 11, 2023
Analysts have noted a significant shift in China’s cyber strategy. Previously focused on political and economic espionage, the current approach aims to infiltrate and potentially wreak havoc on vital infrastructure. This change in tactics represents a grave threat to national security, as it could severely hamper the United States’ ability to project power and respond effectively in the Asia-Pacific region.
The Director of National Intelligence has warned that China is “almost certainly capable” of launching cyberattacks that could disable critical infrastructure such as oil and gas pipelines and rail systems. Such attacks would not only have devastating economic impacts but could also sow widespread panic and disorder among the American populace.
Claims of Chinese hackers infiltrating critical infrastructure ahead of a Pacific conflict. pic.twitter.com/KR6hBjgwBU
— Winning Back #NZ one heart at a time (@BCBNZ) December 11, 2023
The National Security Agency (NSA) has highlighted the challenges in detecting these compromises and the difficulty in ensuring that once detected, the actors are completely evicted from the systems. The stealthy nature of these infiltrations makes it nearly impossible for authorities to notice until it may be too late.
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has emphasized the importance of this issue, stating that it is clear Chinese attempts to compromise critical infrastructure are partly to pre-position themselves for disruptive actions in the event of a conflict. This revelation comes amid growing tension over Taiwan, with targets in Hawaii and Guam—key strategic locations for the US military—being at the top of the Chinese hit list.
In response to these threats, the ‘Five Eyes’ security alliance, comprising the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, has offered new advice to companies on how to safeguard their systems. However, efforts to strengthen reporting requirements on cyberthreats have faced setbacks due to court challenges against federal overreach.
This situation calls for a robust and coordinated response from both the government and private sector entities. It is imperative that companies across various sectors, including communications, manufacturing, utilities, transportation, and others, heed the warnings and take proactive measures to bolster their cybersecurity defenses. The battle for securing America’s critical infrastructure is one that cannot be afforded to lose, as the consequences of failure could be catastrophic for the nation’s security and well-being.
