According to a report by The New York Times on Saturday, the Biden administration has raised concerns about China's alleged implantation of malware into crucial US power and communications networks. The officials fear this could act as a "ticking time bomb" capable of disrupting US military operations in the event of a conflict.
The malware, as reported by the Times, could potentially grant China's People's Liberation Army the capability to disrupt not only US military bases' water, power, and communications but also those of homes and businesses across the country.
The main concern is that if China were to take action against Taiwan, they might utilize this malware to hamper US military operations.
This discovery of the malware has led to a series of high-level meetings in the White House Situation Room, involving top military, intelligence, and national security officials, to track down and eliminate the malicious code.
Two months prior to this report, Microsoft had already warned about state-sponsored Chinese hackers infiltrating critical US infrastructure networks, with Guam being singled out as one target.
The stealthy attack, ongoing since mid-2021, is suspected to be aimed at hindering the United States in case of a regional conflict. Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Britain have also expressed concerns that Chinese hacking could be affecting infrastructure globally.
The White House, in response, issued a statement that did not specifically mention China or military bases. The statement emphasized the administration's commitment to defend the US critical infrastructure and implement rigorous cybersecurity practices.
These revelations come at a tense moment in US-China relations, with China asserting its claim over Taiwan and the US considering restrictions on sophisticated semiconductor sales to Beijing.
