Chinese authorities in Harbin have publicly named three U.S. citizens allegedly involved in cyberattacks targeting critical systems during the 2025 Asian Winter Games. The suspects – described as 'secret agents' reportedly working for the U.S. National Security Agency – are now subject to international arrest warrants with reward offers.
Police claim the hacking operations disrupted competition information systems and breached networks of Chinese enterprises during the global sporting event. A security team member from event host city Harbin stated: 'These attacks not only threatened the Games' operations but demonstrated malicious intent against China's digital infrastructure.'
The announcement comes as China intensifies cybersecurity cooperation with regional partners following recent attacks on multiple Asian tech firms. Huawei's Harbin branch confirmed detecting suspicious network activity during the Games, but declined to comment on potential connections to the current case.
Beijing-based cybersecurity analyst Dr. Lin Wei told KhabarAsia: 'This case highlights growing concerns about digital vulnerabilities in international events. All host cities should prioritize thorough infrastructure audits.' The Asian Winter Games organizing committee confirmed all competition data remained secure throughout the attacks.
Authorities have submitted evidence to INTERPOL while urging countries and regions to strengthen cross-border cybersecurity collaboration. Observers note this development occurs amid heightened scrutiny of critical infrastructure protection across Asia.
