Beijing has been increasing its efforts to gain access to critical infrastructure in the United States, according to General Timothy D. Haugh, director of the National Security Agency. This move is seen as a threat to national security and could disrupt or shut down systems near military bases, causing chaos and slowing the response time to a crisis in the Pacific region or Taiwan.
China’s campaign to expand its global dominance has led it to develop sophisticated cyber capabilities, making it an urgent military threat. The country’s efforts to develop a modernized force are aimed at using it against Taiwan by 2027. Haugh emphasized the importance of confronting China below the level of armed conflict, particularly in the cyber realm.
In 2019, U.S. officials discovered China’s attempts to access critical infrastructure on Guam and in the continental United States through what was known as Volt Typhoon. Chinese hackers used stealthier techniques to break into systems like wastewater and communication networks, with Beijing establishing access before a direct confrontation between the two countries. The effort involved breaking into critical infrastructure near military bases, posing a real threat to U.S. national security.
The U.S.’s response has been prompted by these attacks, with officials working harder than ever before to disrupt that activity
