China Accuses U.S. NSA of Cyberattack on National Time Service Systems

China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS) has accused the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) of conducting cyberattacks against the country’s National Time Service Center (NTSC), a critical institution responsible for maintaining Beijing Time and coordinating national synchronization systems.

In a statement posted to its official WeChat account, the MSS claimed that the NSA exploited vulnerabilities in the messaging services of mobile devices used by NTSC employees. According to the ministry, the intrusion campaign began in 2022 and continued through 2024, with U.S. operatives allegedly using 42 distinct “cyber weapons” to infiltrate internal systems and repeatedly breach the NTSC’s time synchronization infrastructure.

Chinese authorities allege that NSA hackers stole employee credentials and used them to access sensitive systems tied to national communications, finance, energy, and defense operations. They warned that such interference could disrupt critical functions dependent on accurate time coordination, potentially impacting everything from data networks to power grids.

While Beijing asserts that it has “conclusive technical evidence” linking the attacks to the NSA, no supporting documentation or forensic details were released publicly.

The National Time Service Center, located under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, plays a central role in maintaining unified national time and contributing to international time standardization efforts. Given its role, any compromise could have ripple effects across key industries.

“The U.S. accuses others of what it does itself, constantly hyping up rumors about Chinese cyber threats,” the ministry’s statement said.

As of this writing, U.S. officials have not responded to the allegations.