The head of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Jen Easterly, stated that it is certain that Chinese hackers will work to disrupt critical infrastructure in the United States, such as pipelines and railways, in the event of a conflict between the two sides. In remarks at the Aspen Institute in Washington, Easterly pointed out that Beijing is directing massive investments to enhance its ability to sabotage U.S. infrastructure. She believes, "This is the real threat that we need to prepare for, focus on, and develop the capability to counter."
She warned that Americans need to prepare for the possibility of Beijing hackers enhancing their defenses and causing damage in the physical world. Easterly continued, "Given the enormous nature of the threat from Chinese state actors, the size of their capabilities, and the resources and efforts they are putting into it, it will be very difficult for us to prevent disruptions."
Her comments add to a warning issued earlier this year by U.S. intelligence circles, which, in their annual threat assessment, stated that Beijing "will certainly consider conducting aggressive cyber operations against critical infrastructure within the United States" and military targets if decision-makers in China see a significant imminent conflict with the United States.
