Chinese security authorities have accused three alleged U.S. intelligence agents of carrying out cyberattacks during the Asian Winter Games held in February in Harbin, the northeastern capital of Heilongjiang province. The local police have issued a public appeal for information on the individuals, promising a reward for assistance in their capture.
In a statement released on the social media platform Weibo, Harbin police claimed that the three individuals—identified as Katheryn A. Wilson, Robert J. Snelling, and Stephen W. Johnson—are agents of the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA), working within its Office of Tailored Access Operations, a unit specializing in cyber operations.
According to China’s national computer virus monitoring center, over 270,000 foreign cyberattacks were recorded targeting systems associated with the 9th Asian Winter Games, which took place from February 7 to 14. The attacks reportedly began on January 26 and focused on critical infrastructure, including information dissemination platforms, entry and exit systems, electronic payments, and local services. Chinese officials claim that two-thirds of these attacks originated from the United States.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned what it described as “malicious cyber behaviour,” saying it had lodged formal complaints with the U.S. government. “We urge the U.S. to stop its unwarranted smears and cyberattacks against China,” said ministry spokesperson Lin Jian, adding that Beijing would take “necessary measures” to safeguard national cybersecurity.
The Harbin police statement also alleged that the accused NSA agents had previously targeted major Chinese companies, including Huawei—already under U.S. sanctions since 2019 over national security concerns. Additionally, state-run media outlet Xinhua reported that investigations had uncovered evidence linking the University of California and Virginia Tech to the alleged cyber campaign.
Authorities have called on the public to come forward with any information that could assist in locating the named individuals, pledging rewards for tips that lead to arrests. While the specific value of the reward was not disclosed, China has long offered financial incentives for citizens who report suspected espionage.
Under Chinese law, espionage can carry severe penalties, including life imprisonment or execution. In March, the Ministry of State Security announced it had sentenced a former engineer to death for passing state secrets to a foreign country.
The U.S. Embassy in Beijing has not responded to the allegations.
