China's Ministry of State Security accuses US’ NSA of hacking, infiltrating Huawei's servers since 2009

China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS) has claimed that the US National Security Agency (NSA) infiltrated servers belonging to Chinese tech company Huawei as far back as 2009. The MSS revealed that the NSA’s Office of Tailored Access Operation (TAO) initiated cyberattacks on Huawei’s servers and maintained continuous surveillance. This revelation comes after the Chinese MSS identified US spyware known as SecondDate in cyberattacks against China’s Northwestern Polytechnical University. SecondDate, a cyber-espionage tool, was reportedly operating covertly on numerous network devices worldwide. The MSS also disclosed that the TAO conducted tens of thousands of malicious cyberattacks against China, controlled a multitude of network devices, and stole a substantial amount of high-value data. These actions, according to the MSS, expose the US’s “Empire of Hacking” and its tactics to maintain “cyber hegemony.” China alleges that the US has engaged in large-scale cyberattacks and espionage operations against 45 countries and regions, including China and Russia, over a decade. These operations reportedly targeted various sectors, such as telecommunications, scientific research, economy, energy, and military. China accuses the US of exploiting laws like the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act to coerce technology companies into embedding backdoors in their products, enabling data theft. The MSS cites instances of US companies selling location data and monitoring mobile devices globally, often in collaboration with government agencies. The MSS asserts that while the US conducts extensive cyberattacks worldwide, it simultaneously releases security reports portraying China as a cyber threat. It claims that the US has been eavesdropping on its allies and conducting cyber operations against China since the PRISM program revelations in 2013. Furthermore, the MSS alleges that the US’s recent Hunt Forward Operations have targeted countries like Russia, Iran, China, and North Korea under the guise of “active defence.” In conclusion, the MSS accuses the US of using cybersecurity as a pretext to push initiatives like the “Clean Network” project, which aims to exclude Chinese tech companies. The MSS contends that the US’s ultimate goal is to suppress its opponents and maintain global dominance in the realm of cyber warfare.