Chinese Hackers Pull Off ‘Major Espionage Coup’ on U.S. Telecom Industry

In an alarming breach of U.S. security, Communist China hacked several leading American telecom companies in a massive espionage operation targeting prominent political figures, including former President Donald Trump and Senator JD Vance (R-OH). The hacking, which cybersecurity analysts call an unprecedented “espionage coup,” also targeted Vice President Kamala Harris’ aides and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY). This brazen attack raises major concerns about the Biden administration’s ability to protect critical infrastructure from foreign threats.

Microsoft cybersecurity specialists dubbed the Chinese-linked hacker group “Salt Typhoon” with “Typhoon” identifying the attack as Chinese and “Salt” signifying its counterintelligence nature. Companies such as Verizon, AT&T, and Lumen are confirmed to have been compromised. The attack’s true scope, however, is still emerging as investigators uncover just how deeply the hackers infiltrated U.S. systems.

Key Points of the Breach:

• Focus on Key Leaders: The hack targeted several political figures and national security personnel, compromising the phones of numerous individuals involved in critical U.S. policy and defense sectors.

• Surveillance Concerns: Hackers accessed U.S. telecom networks, reportedly exploiting systems meant to comply with surveillance laws like the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). By accessing these sensitive networks, Chinese operatives could have monitored court-ordered surveillance meant to detect foreign spies and terrorists.

• Unmatched Scale: According to the FBI, China’s hacking program is unparalleled. With as many as 600,000 cyber operatives, China’s hacking efforts outstrip the FBI’s own cyber personnel by an estimated 50-to-1 ratio, highlighting the overwhelming scale of China’s commitment to espionage.

One of the more troubling elements of this breach is the ability it gives the Chinese government to monitor U.S. officials’ communications, potentially mapping out a network of American allies and associates. Such data could aid China’s “influence operations”—covert efforts to manipulate key decision-makers into serving Chinese interests, from trade to national security policies.

The Biden-Harris administration’s response has been tepid at best. The Cyber Safety Review Board, a division of Homeland Security, stated only that it would review the hack “at the appropriate time.” Meanwhile, China’s aggression and espionage ambitions continue to grow. FBI Director Christopher Wray recently remarked that China’s hacking capacity is “larger than that of every other major nation, combined.”

China’s Strategy: Becoming the World’s Superpower by Stealth

In recent years, China has systematically increased its espionage activities in a bid to position itself as the global superpower. By targeting American intellectual property, technology, and even personal data of political leaders, China seeks to gain a decisive edge over the U.S. in critical industries like telecommunications, artificial intelligence, and military defense. The Wall Street Journal highlighted this trend, describing China’s spying campaign as “unprecedented,” indicating that this attack is only a small fraction of its larger strategy.

The U.S. urgently needs stronger cybersecurity measures to defend against Chinese espionage. While American intelligence has countered some foreign threats, the response to China’s recent hacks shows a disturbing level of complacency. With thousands of skilled cyber operatives on China’s side, the Biden administration must act swiftly to secure sensitive information and protect American sovereignty.

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