US Cybersecurity Official Raises Alarm on China's Aggressive Cyber Operations: Should We Be Worried?

The top US cybersecurity officer has issued a stern warning on China's cyber espionage and sabotage capabilities, describing them as an "epoch-defining threat."

Jen Easterly, Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), recently spoke at the Aspen Institute in Washington, DC. She discussed the possibility that China could engage in "aggressive cyber operations" that could cause social unrest and disrupt vital US transportation infrastructure in the event of open warfare, CNBC reported.

Easterly's worry stems from the newly exposed Chinese penetration of American military and commercial sector infrastructure; this assault is linked to the organization known as "Volt Typhoon," which has strong links to the Chinese government's cyber-offensive capabilities.

The CISA head cautioned that it would be challenging to prevent disruptions if cyber organizations with similar aims targeted crucial transportation infrastructure like pipelines and trains in the event of an open confrontation between the United States and China.

Easterly emphasized the need for "operational and societal resilience" and "cyber resilience." She also underlined the necessity of being aware of and ready for the possible repercussions of cyberattacks on crucial infrastructure.

China Denies US' Allegations

The US government is emphasizing the defense against cyber threats coming from China and Asia during increased geopolitical tensions, which is why these warnings are being issued.

The United States has taken a more transparent and open stance in identifying the linkages between the Chinese government and different hacking organizations since there is a growing awareness of these relationships.

Easterly's comments add to past advisories from the US intelligence community that, in the event of a significant conflict, China would not be reluctant to conduct aggressive cyber operations against US military and critical infrastructure targets, per Reuters.

Other American officials have also expressed worry about China's use of cyberattacks to undermine American support for Taiwan in the event of an invasion.

Meanwhile, the United States assertions were swiftly refuted by China, which emphasized that it has always opposed and severely punished all types of cyber hacking in line with its laws. Chinese Embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu even accused the US of massive, coordinated, and indiscriminate cyber theft and spying on foreign governments, organizations, and persons, according to VOA News.