The ongoing back-and-forth between the US and China concerning cyberattacks has escalated once more, as China alleges that the US is behind a series of cyber intrusions targeting its National Time Service Center.

While the notion of the US waging war on time might sound humorous, China is serious about the implications. The facility is crucial for a multitude of services across communications, finance, power, transport, and national defense within the country.

According to a report by AP News, the Ministry of State Security accused the US National Security Agency (NSA) of exploiting vulnerabilities in messaging services from a mobile phone brand in 2022 to siphon off information from employees of the National Time Center.

Since then, the ministry claims that the NSA has deployed 42 types of “special cyberattack tools” to undermine internal network systems and has attempted to breach a critical timing mechanism across 2023 and 2024. Yet, substantiation for these claims was notably absent in the ministry’s public statements.

The post from the ministry also states, “The U.S. accuses others of what it itself is guilty of, constantly amplifying claims regarding Chinese cyber threats.” Following the discovery of the alleged breach, guidance was reportedly provided to the time center to bolster its defenses against future threats.

Claims of hacking efforts originating from China are common. For example, just last week, a nation-state actor, believed to have Chinese affiliations, was linked to the breach of a cybersecurity provider, having allegedly penetrated its networks for over a year.

In the broader context, it’s naive to think that the US isn’t employing its own cyber infiltration tactics aimed at China. Attempts to synchronize a nation as vast as China make the Time Service Center a potentially disruptive target, albeit one that raises questions about ongoing disputes over digital security and influence.