Wray underscored the expansive nature of China’s agenda, asserting that the People’s Republic of China views every facet of American society as fair game in its quest for global dominance….reports Asian Lite News
FBI Director Christopher Wray recently sounded the alarm on the looming threat posed by Chinese-linked hackers, cautioning that they are poised to strike US infrastructure when the opportunity arises. Speaking at the 2024 Vanderbilt Summit on Modern Conflict and Emerging Threats, Wray emphasised the gravity of the situation, highlighting efforts by federal authorities to mitigate the risk.
Wray underscored the expansive nature of China’s agenda, asserting that the People’s Republic of China views every facet of American society as fair game in its quest for global dominance. He emphasized that China’s strategy entails targeting civilian infrastructure to sow panic and undermine America’s resilience. This sentiment aligns with the broader geopolitical context, where tensions between China and the US, particularly regarding Taiwan, have escalated.
In his remarks, Wray outlined the multifaceted approach employed by Chinese hackers, including the theft of intellectual property, technology, and research from various sectors of the American economy. He cited alarming instances where Chinese hackers infiltrated infrastructure controls with remarkable efficiency, bypassing financial data to access critical systems swiftly. This tactical maneuver suggests malicious intent beyond mere economic gain, indicative of a broader agenda aimed at destabilizing vital infrastructure.
Highlighting the collaborative efforts of law enforcement, military, and intelligence agencies, Wray stressed the importance of proactive engagement from private entities. He emphasized the significance of companies maintaining close communication with their local FBI field offices, fostering a culture of readiness and enabling swift responses to potential threats.
This warning echoes previous alerts issued by Wray, including his testimony before the House Select Committee, where he cautioned against the vulnerability of essential sectors such as the electrical grid, oil and gas pipelines, transportation networks, and water treatment facilities.
Recently, US President Joe Biden said that he would urge US Trade Representative Katherine Tai to consider tripling the tariff rates for steel and aluminium imports from China if the investigation into the Chinese government’s trade practices confirms ‘anti-competitive practices.’
During his address at the United Steelworkers Headquarters in Pittsburgh, Biden said, “Look, right now, my US Trade Representative is investigating trade practices by the Chinese government regarding steel and aluminium. If that investigation confirms these anti-competitive trade practices, then I’m calling on her to consider tripling the tariff rates for both steel imports and aluminium imports from China.”
He accused the Chinese government of funnelling state funds into Chinese steel companies and pushing them to increase steel production subsidised by the government. He described how Chinese steel companies were dumping surplus steel into global markets at low prices because they needed not to worry about profit.
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