The Chinese military is ramping up its ability to disrupt key American infrastructure, including power and water utilities as well as communications and transportation systems, per the WaPo.
The recent cyber intrusions seem to be part of a broader military initiative named “Volt Typhoon,” which aims to target and disrupt American logistics in the potential event of a conflict in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly involving a Chinese invasion of Taiwan.
Chinese military hackers have reportedly infiltrated the computer systems of approximately two dozen critical entities over the past year. This effort is part of a larger strategy to create panic, chaos, or disrupt logistics in the event of a conflict between the U.S. and China in the Pacific, according to sources cited by WaPo.
The affected infrastructure includes a water utility in Hawaii, a significant West Coast port, and at least one oil and gas pipeline, although specific names were not disclosed. Additionally, an attempted hacking incident targeted the independent Texas power grid.
Brandon Wales, the executive director of the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, emphasized that these Chinese attempts to compromise critical infrastructure aim to position themselves strategically to disrupt or destroy vital systems in case of a conflict. The goal is to hinder the United States' ability to project power into Asia or induce societal chaos within the country, influencing decision-making during a crisis.
Wales noted a notable shift in Chinese cyber activities from political and economic espionage to a focus on critical infrastructure, marking a significant change in their approach over the past decade.
While the reported intrusions did not impact industrial control systems governing essential functions, such as pumps or pistons, or cause disruptions, the attention appears to be concentrated on Hawaii, a crucial location housing the U.S. Pacific Fleet and serving as a major logistics hub for military operations in the region. In May, Microsoft revealed that Volt Typhoon activities were also targeting entities in Guam, another strategically important American naval location.
