Trump Raises 2024 Salt Typhoon Hack With Xi, Calling U.S.-China Espionage a Double-Edged Sword
Updated
Updated · POLITICO · May 18
Trump Raises 2024 Salt Typhoon Hack With Xi, Calling U.S.-China Espionage a Double-Edged Sword
4 articles · Updated · POLITICO · May 18
Trump said he confronted Xi Jinping at their summit over Chinese cyberattacks on U.S. networks, telling reporters both countries conduct espionage the other may not fully see.
The exchange came as Beijing remains tied to major intrusions into U.S. infrastructure, including the 2024 Salt Typhoon telecom hack and the broader Volt Typhoon campaign.
CISA and international partners warned just last month that Volt Typhoon had pre-positioned offensive cyber capabilities inside critical infrastructure, underscoring why the issue surfaced in leader-level talks.
The discussion also highlighted the tension in Washington's China policy: some Trump officials have pushed tougher retaliation for state-backed hacks, but Trump reportedly delayed sanctions last year to protect trade talks.
Surveillance concerns shaped the trip itself, with U.S. officials and reporters using burner phones in China before the devices were collected ahead of Air Force One's departure from Beijing.
After admitting to mutual spying, what are the new rules for US-China cyber conflict?
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U.S.-China Cyber Espionage Escalates: Salt Typhoon, Telecom Breaches, and the 2026 Shift in Global Cybersecurity Policy
Overview
In May 2026, President Donald Trump made a groundbreaking public admission about mutual cyber espionage between the U.S. and China, marking a shift from traditional denials to open acknowledgment. This candid statement reflected long-standing U.S. concerns about China’s aggressive cyber activities and came as U.S. officials were already pursuing tougher actions against foreign hackers, especially from China. By fostering a market for offensive cyber capabilities and treating cyber operations as essential national security tools, the U.S. had set a hardened policy stance. Trump’s transparency introduced a new dynamic, potentially paving the way for more pragmatic and open dialogue in U.S.-China cyber relations.