China accuses the USA of cyber attacks on the National Time Service Center

China has accused the United States of cyberattacks and espionage, claiming that the National Security Agency (NSA) of the USA targeted the National Time Service Center in Xi'an. The State Security Ministry stated that the attacks aimed at national surveillance of time measurement, and evidence of data theft has been discovered since 2022. It is alleged that the NSA exploited a vulnerability in a smartphone brand to access the devices of the center's employees, which is essential for providing the official time in China. These attacks could cause serious disruptions in communication networks and financial systems. Relations between China and the USA have deteriorated, with both countries accusing each other of cyberattacks. Previously, a cyberattack on US telecommunications companies was attributed to Chinese intelligence services, which allegedly spied on the private communications of American citizens. The Chinese government has rejected the accusations made by the USA.