China Accuses U.S. NSA of Cyberattacks on National Time Service Center

Beijing has escalated its allegations against the United States, claiming possession of "irrefutable evidence" that the National Security Agency (NSA) conducted cyberattacks on China's National Time Service Center (NTSC) since March 2022. The NTSC, located in Xi'an, Shaanxi province, is responsible for maintaining China's official timekeeping system, which synchronizes clocks nationwide and contributes to global time standards.

According to China's Ministry of State Security, the NSA exploited vulnerabilities in mobile devices belonging to NTSC personnel to steal sensitive data. From April 2023 onward, the agency allegedly used compromised credentials to infiltrate the center's computers and networks. The ministry asserts these actions jeopardized both national security and critical infrastructure.

The accusations were detailed in an official statement published on WeChat, though no technical evidence was disclosed. This incident marks another flashpoint in the ongoing cybersecurity tensions between the two superpowers, following previous disputes over industrial espionage and critical infrastructure breaches.