A secret office, which is suspected to have been hacked by Chinese authorities, is one of the most powerful tools at the United States' disposal for achieving national security objectives, according to media reports.
Sources speaking to the newspaper on the condition of anonymity revealed that the attack on the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Treasury Department itself reflects Beijing's determination to obtain intelligence on its rival in the global struggle for power and influence.
American officials indicated that the Chinese authorities might be interested in information regarding organizations that the U.S. may consider for potential financial sanctions.
Moreover, even non-classified information stored in OFAC could provide the Chinese government with "valuable intelligence," as it is used to justify sanctions against organizations and individuals, explained David Laufman, a former sanctions compliance officer in the U.S. Department of Justice's National Security Division.
The publication also points out that relations between Beijing and Washington remain tense, as newly elected U.S. President Donald Trump threatens China with stricter tariffs, particularly on imports from China, which could trigger a global trade war.
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has called the accusation "unfounded" and stated that Beijing has always opposed "all forms of hacking attacks," as quoted by WP.