In December 2024, senior U.S. and Chinese officials met in secret in Geneva to discuss rising cyber tensions. According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, the meeting marked the first time a Chinese official appeared to admit, even indirectly, that China has been behind cyberattacks on U.S. infrastructure.
The U.S. delegation was led by Nate Fick, Ambassador-at-Large for Cyberspace and Digital Policy, and included representatives from the State Department, Pentagon, National Security Council, and intelligence agencies.
Leading the Chinese delegation was Wang Lei, a senior cyber official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
During the half-day talks, U.S. officials confronted their Chinese counterparts about a series of cyber intrusions targeting critical U.S. infrastructure including ports, airports, water utilities, telecommunications networks, internet providers, and even the Treasury Department.
The cyber group “Volt Typhoon,” linked to the Chinese government, has been blamed for the operations.
In response, Wang did not directly admit involvement but pointed to U.S. support for Taiwan as a reason behind the attacks.
The 2025 Annual Threat Assessment, presented recently before the Senate Intelligence Committee, identifies China as the biggest military and cyber threat to U.S. national security.
The report warns that the People’s Liberation Army is steadily enhancing its capabilities to seize Taiwan and, if necessary, challenge U.S. military intervention.
It further asserts that China presents a direct threat to U.S. national security, with the capacity to carry out conventional strikes, disrupt critical infrastructure through cyberattacks, and target American assets in space.
