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Chinese Government Claims it Didn’t Hack US Treasury Department, but There’s a Problem

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China-backed hackers reportedly breached several U.S. Treasury Department workstations, according to the agency, which notified lawmakers about the hack.

This development comes after Chinese hackers targeted a number of major corporations as part of a broader cyberespionage effort. CNN reviewed the memo the agency sent to lawmakers.

In a letter reviewed by CNN, a Treasury official said it was informed by a third-party software service provider on December 8 that a threat actor used a stolen key to remotely access certain Treasury workstations and unclassified documents.

“Based on available indicators, the incident has been attributed to a Chinese state-sponsored Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) actor,” Aditi Hardikar, assistant secretary for management at the US Treasury, wrote in the letter.

A Treasury spokesperson said in a statement to CNN that the compromised service has been taken offline and officials are working with law enforcement and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).

“There is no evidence indicating the threat actor has continued access to Treasury systems or information,” the Treasury spokesperson said.

According to the letter to Senate Banking Committee leadership, the third-party software service provider, BeyondTrust, said hackers gained access to a key used by the vendor to secure a cloud-based service that Treasury uses for technical support.

(Read more from “Chinese Government Claims it Didn’t Hack US Treasury Department, but There’s a Problem” HERE)

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Report: China Rapidly Builds Up Weapons And Psychological Warfare Operations

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The People’s Republic of China (PRC) is undertaking an unprecedented military buildup aimed at challenging America and its allies, particularly in the Indo-Pacific. And, like Nazi Germany’s buildup in the 1930s, the militarization program ordered by the Chinese Communist Party isn’t simply a great power buildup — it’s a weapon in service of a deadly ideology.

The 2024 Department of Defense China Military Power Report and recent analysis by Bill Gertz in the Washington Times reveal this buildup as part of a broader strategy by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to position itself as a global superpower. Meanwhile, the U.S., having spent $5.4 trillion on the global war on terror and attendant, futile nation-building, has left itself strategically vulnerable by diverting critical resources while underestimating the threat from China.

Missile Expansion and Strategic Modernization

China has rapidly expanded the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLARF) arsenal, adding, that we know of, some:

50 new intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) capable of striking the continental U.S., for a cumulative total of 400.

300 medium-range ballistic missiles and 100 long-range cruise missiles.

More than 600 operational nuclear warheads, projected to surpass 1,000 by 2030.

(Read more from “Report: China Rapidly Builds Up Weapons And Psychological Warfare Operations” HERE)

Spy Bosses ‘Silenced’ Defense Department, FBI Scientists From Briefing Biden on COVID Lab Leak Evidence

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Spy chiefs “silenced” researchers in the Defense Department and FBI who discovered strong evidence that COVID-19 most likely leaked from a Chinese lab, The Post has learned.

As a result, their findings were kept out of an August 2021 report to President Biden on the origins of the global pandemic.

That report concluded that the virus behind COVID “was probably not genetically engineered.”

After the pandemic erupted in Wuhan, China, three scientists from the Defense Intelligence Agency began trying to figure out exactly where it came from — whether SARS-CoV-2 jumped from bats into humans, or whether the virus was man-made and came from a lab accident.

The “zoonotic origin” theory was backed by powerful members of the public health establishment, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, and questions about a possible “lab leak” were repeatedly dismissed as a conspiracy theory. (Read more from “Spy Bosses ‘Silenced’ Defense Department, FBI Scientists From Briefing Biden on COVID Lab Leak Evidence” HERE)

China Mocks America as ‘Breeding Ground for Delusion’ Over NJ Drones

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China’s state-run Global Times on Thursday mocked the United States as a “breeding ground for delusion” because of the furor over drone sightings in New Jersey.

The Chinese Communist propaganda organ was particularly irked by House Foreign Affairs Committee chair Michael McCaul claiming the mysterious aircraft were “Chinese spy drones.”

“Some American politicians seem to have a special preference for sensationalizing the ‘China threat.’ Much like the ‘spy balloon’ incident that unfolded in early 2023, the latest accusations against Chinese drones follow an old script, repackaged with new rhetoric aimed at smearing China,” the Global Times hooted.

The Chinese spy balloon of 2023 was, of course, a real Chinese spy balloon, as numerous studies of its behavior have confirmed. Beijing has developed a penchant for floating suspicious balloons into the air space of adversaries – either to gather information or to test how adversaries respond to the penetration of their air defense zones. . .

“From ‘spy balloons’ to ‘spy cranes’ to ‘spy drones’ … these absurd and paranoid labels reflect the distorted and narrow-minded mentality of some U.S. politicians in their attempts to contain and suppress China,” the Global Times lectured. (Read more from “China Mocks America as ‘Breeding Ground for Delusion’ Over NJ Drones” HERE)

NATO Chief Warns Alliance Not Ready for Future Threats From Russia, China

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NATO countries need to ramp up their defense spending and “shift to a wartime mindset” because the alliance is not ready to meet future military threats from adversaries like Russia and China, newly installed NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said Thursday.

In his first public appearance in Brussels since becoming chief of the U.S.-led security alliance, Mr. Rutte noted that NATO members earmarked upwards of 3% of their GDP to defense during the Cold War.

“We are not ready for what is coming our way in four to five years. Danger is moving toward us at full speed,” Mr. Rutte said during a speech hosted by the Carnegie Europe think tank. “We must not look the other way. We must face it.”

He said Russian arms factories are churning out war equipment around the clock while China’s military-industrial base also is growing. Beijing is heavily investing in munitions, accelerating its space capabilities and expanding its nuclear arsenal.

“Our defense industry here in Europe has been hollowed out by decades of underinvestment and narrow national industrial interests. Our industry is too small, too fragmented, and too slow,” Mr. Rutte said. “According to some sources, China is acquiring high-end weapons systems and equipment five to six times faster than the U.S.” (Read more from “NATO Chief Warns Alliance Not Ready for Future Threats From Russia, China” HERE)

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Pentagon Alert: U.S. Runs Out of Missiles in a ‘Matter of Days’ in China War, Can’t Match Production

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American defense industries lack the capacity to supply the missiles and other weapons needed for a war with China, and U.S. forces would lose the conflict as a result, members of Congress and private defense experts warned Thursday.

The House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party recently held a simulated conflict with Beijing that revealed the U.S. military would quickly run out of bombs, missiles and other weapons within days of a war. The Pentagon has identified China as the U.S. military’s “pacing challenge.”

The growing risk of war with China over Taiwan or other flash points in the Indo-Pacific was the backdrop for Thursday’s committee hearing. Members and experts called for emergency measures to rebuild the American defense industry to avoid an armed clash with Beijing.

“Our defense industrial base lacks the capacity to deter and win a fight with the PRC,” said committee Chairman John Moolenaar, Michigan Republican, using the acronym for the People’s Republic of China.

Mr. Moolenaar said U.S. defense firms cannot innovate rapidly and supply chains for key defense components are vulnerable to China’s coercion and manipulation. He called for bold new policies and significant resources for the defense industrial base. (Read more from “Pentagon Alert: U.S. Runs Out of Missiles in a ‘Matter of Days’ in China War, Can’t Match Production” HERE)

China Escalates Trade War With US By Slapping Ban On Minerals Used In Ammunition, Semiconductors

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China announced Tuesday that it is banning exports to the U.S. of some metals and rare minerals which can be used in the production of semiconductors and ammunition, according to the Financial Times.

China’s Ministry of Commerce announced that it is banning exports of “dual-use” items related to germanium, gallium, antimony and superhard materials to the US in retaliation against the US government’s latest trade restrictions, according to the Financial Times. The ministry also announced that it is placing more rigid controls on exports of graphite-related items, the Financial Times reported.

The key minerals and metals are used in the production of a variety of items, including batteries, military hardware and semiconductors, according to the Financial Times. Beijing has largely dominated the global supply of various crucial resources, the Financial Times reported. Researchers estimated there could be a $3.4 billion decrease in US gross domestic product if China implements a total ban on exports of germanium and gallium, minerals used in some semiconductors and other high-tech manufacturing, according to a November report from the U.S. Geological Survey.

China’s decision comes after the US Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) announced on Monday new restrictions designed to curb the People’s Republic of China’s capacity to produce advanced semiconductors that can be used in advanced weapon systems, artificial intelligence and advanced computing, according to a Monday press release. The BIS also added 140 unnamed Chinese companies to a restricted trade list. (Read more from “China Escalates Trade War With US By Slapping Ban On Minerals Used In Ammunition, Semiconductors” HERE)

Chinese Agents Can Now Access Every American’s Phone Calls And Texts, GOP Senator Warns

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Republican South Dakota Sen. Mike Rounds warned Friday that China’s state-sponsored hackers, known as Salt Typhoon, have gained the capability to spy on millions of Americans through their mobile phones.

During an event at Halifax The Forum, Rounds revealed that hackers have infiltrated all major U.S. telecommunications firms. Rounds said these hackers have penetrated every major telecom provider in the country. He also said the Chinese Communist government is capable of reading texts and listening to conversations.

“Any one of us and every one of us today is subject to the review by the Chinese Communist government of any cell phone conversation you have with anyone in America. Because they have access to every single one of our major telecommunications companies. They have broken in. They can read your texts, and they can hear your conversations,” Rounds said. “It’s just a matter of who they want to listen to and who they don’t.”

Salt Typhoon, identified as a Chinese hacking group, has infiltrated the networks of AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile, and their presence lingers, according to Democratic Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, The Washington Post reported. Warner called the breach “the worst telecom hack in our nation’s history—by far.” (Read more from “Chinese Agents Can Now Access Every American’s Phone Calls And Texts, GOP Senator Warns” HERE)

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The Nuclear Battery That Can Power Your Smartphone for 50 Years Straight

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The Chinese company Betavolt plans to produce a battery that will last for 50 years by 2025. They have produced a nuclear battery which is approximately the size of a small coin and requires no recharging. The company is now moving from the developmental stage to the pilot stage, and they are preparing for full-scale production as they ready themselves for the market.

Betavolt is based in Beijing and they claim that they are the first in the world to miniaturize atomic energy successfully. They have managed to fit 63 nuclear isotopes onto a module that is smaller in size than a coin. The battery works by converting the energy that is released by the decaying isotopes into energy. This process was initially explored in the previous century. Betavolt claims to have achieved modularization and miniaturization in atomic energy batteries in a cost-effective manner. This marks a significant breakthrough in making nuclear energy compact enough to be used for an array of practical uses.

The Chairman and CEO of Betavolt, Zhang Wei, stated in a press release that the BV100 “marks a groundbreaking achievement as the world’s first mass-produced nuclear battery”. It uses 100 microwatts of power and operates at 3 volts. Its small size measures just 15 x 15 x 5 millimeters, which is smaller than a typical coin. These amazing nuclear batteries are able to produce energy continuously, generating 8.64 joules per day and 3,153 joules every year.

These nuclear batteries have more than ten times the energy density of the more traditional lithium batteries. They are able to store an incredibly huge amount of energy – 3,300 megawatts – just in a single gram of material. Most importantly, it can do this all while being safe from fire or explosions. This makes this nuclear battery a much safer option for energy storage. Additionally, the compact size of these batteries means they can be used in various applications where space is usually very limited. The nuclear battery has been designed to provide stable power generation and performs very well in tough environments. These amazing batteries maintain consistent performance even in extreme temperatures, ranging from 120 degrees above zero to minus 60 degrees. However, the press release for the nuclear battery doesn’t state if these temperatures are in Celsius or Fahrenheit. (Read more from “The Nuclear Battery That Can Power Your Smartphone for 50 Years Straight” HERE)

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‘World War III Has Already Begun,’ Jamie Dimon Warns — Says He and His Team Are Preparing for Serious Conflict With Russia, China

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The head of America’s largest bank told an audience at the Institute of International Finance that his team is running scenarios in preparation for a global conflict involving nuclear powers.

Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase, told the crowd that war was imminent and nuclear proliferation was a greater existential threat than climate change.

“World War III has already begun. You already have battles on the ground being coordinated in multiple countries,” Dimon said at the annual event in Washington, DC on Oct. 24.

Dimon also claimed the cooperation between China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea to dismantle the Western world order far outweighed any financial issues.

Western powers, including NATO allies, have been pitted against Russia after it invaded Ukraine in 2022. Meanwhile, North Korea has sent an estimated 12,000 soldiers to fight with Russia in Ukraine, CNN reported. (Read more from “‘World War III Has Already Begun,’ Jamie Dimon Warns — Says He and His Team Are Preparing for Serious Conflict With Russia, China” HERE)

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