China accuses US of infiltrating Huawei servers in decade-long cyberespionage campaign

China has accused the United States of infiltrating Huawei Technologies Co.’s servers, alleging that the cyberespionage campaign commenced in 2009 and evolved into tens of thousands of cyberattacks against Chinese targets last year. According to China’s Ministry of State Security, the Tailored Access Operations unit of the National Security Agency initiated the 2009 attacks and maintained continuous surveillance on the servers, although specific details about subsequent attacks were not disclosed.

The issue of cyberattacks has long been a source of tension between Washington and Beijing, with both sides accusing each other of conducting such activities. This recent accusation comes as the two countries engage in a battle for technological supremacy, with Huawei being a focal point of concern for the United States. Despite US sanctions aimed at restricting Huawei’s access to American technology, the company unveiled a smartphone powered by an advanced chip it designed in collaboration with Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp.

In response to the allegations, China’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Mao Ning, criticised the United States for what she referred to as an “over-stretching” of the concept of national security in its actions against Chinese enterprises. These accusations further underscore the ongoing challenges in U.S.-China relations, particularly in the realm of technology and cybersecurity.