The Chinese Communist Party has been waging cyber warfare against America for decades.
Beijing’s hackers have stolen everything from COVID-19 research to top-secret government files.
But the FBI just caught one Chinese hacker red-handed and Beijing’s response will make your blood boil.
Trump’s FBI Nabs First Chinese Government Hacker
For years, the FBI could only watch helplessly as Chinese hackers attacked American universities, businesses, and government agencies from the safety of mainland China.
Beijing’s cyber criminals operated with complete impunity, knowing they were untouchable behind the Great Wall.
That all changed when Chinese national Xu Zewei stepped off a plane at Milan’s Malpensa airport for what he thought was a relaxing vacation with his wife.
Italian authorities were waiting for him with an American arrest warrant.
Xu became the first Chinese government-backed hacker that the FBI has ever successfully detained.¹
FBI Director Kash Patel celebrated the historic arrest on social media.
"Xu is accused of hacking U.S. universities and stealing critical COVID-19 research on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party," Patel wrote on X. "The CCP’s relentless attacks on our institutions will not go unanswered. The FBI will hunt down those who threaten our national security—wherever they hide."²
This wasn’t some low-level cyber punk operating out of his parents’ basement.
According to federal prosecutors, Xu held a top position as general manager at a Chinese firm called Shanghai Powerock Network.³
This company isn’t just some random tech startup – it’s a front operation that carries out cyber attacks on direct orders from the Shanghai State Security Bureau, which answers to China’s Ministry of State Security.
Massive COVID Research Theft Operation Exposed
The nine-count indictment against Xu and his co-conspirator Zhang Yu reads like a spy thriller.
From 2020 to 2021, Xu and his partner Zhang Yu launched a devastating cyber assault on American computer networks.
Their weapon of choice was the HAFNIUM intrusion campaign – a sophisticated operation that weaponized security flaws in Microsoft’s Exchange Server email system to break into thousands of computers worldwide.⁴
But what they stole will make your blood boil.
The hackers targeted American universities conducting cutting-edge COVID-19 vaccine research in early 2020, when Americans were desperately fighting for their lives against the pandemic.
While our doctors and scientists worked around the clock to develop life-saving treatments, Chinese spies were stealing their research.
The indictment accuses Xu and his conspirators of hacking into networks at universities in Texas and North Carolina to "steal the victims’ data, including COVID-19 research, for the benefit of PRC-based entities and the strategic benefit of the PRC government."⁵
They also targeted a Washington, D.C. law firm, specifically searching for information on "Chinese sources," "MSS," the Ministry of State Security, and "Hong Kong."⁶
Beijing’s Arrogant Response Shows Their True Colors
When confronted with evidence of their cyber espionage, Beijing’s response was typically arrogant and defiant.
China delivered a sharp criticism of Xu’s arrest and said Beijing completely rejects "any smears and vilification" about alleged cyber activities.
"China firmly opposes the use of long-arm jurisdiction and opposes the US’ disguised extradition of Chinese nationals via a third country," said a spokeswoman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry.⁷
Translation: How dare America arrest our spy!
Beijing’s outrage over getting caught red-handed shows they have no intention of playing by the rules.
The Chinese Communist Party views cyber warfare as just another tool in their arsenal to steal American secrets and undermine our national security.
Assistant Director Brett Leatherman of the FBI’s Cyber Division revealed the staggering scope of Beijing’s cyber attacks.
"Through HAFNIUM, the CCP targeted over 60,000 U.S. entities, successfully victimizing more than 12,700 in order to steal sensitive information," Leatherman said.⁸
That’s more than 12,000 American organizations that had their data stolen by Chinese hackers.
Trump Takes the Gloves Off Against Chinese Cyber Warfare
President Trump has made it crystal clear that America won’t tolerate Beijing’s cyber aggression anymore.
In June, Trump signed an executive order aimed at improving "critical protections" against foreign cyber threats across both the public and private sectors.⁹
The order directs agencies to improve encryption, secure software standards, and protection of network infrastructure to prevent easy access by hackers.
But Trump isn’t just playing defense.
Chairman of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, Rep. John Moolenaar (R-MI), revealed that the Trump administration is mounting "aggressive," offensive cyber operations against Beijing.
"The new administration has already shown a willingness to take a more aggressive stance in cyberspace," Moolenaar said. According to the chairman, the president’s top advisors and National Security Council officials are "signaling that America is no longer only playing defense. We are actively engaging to erode our adversaries’ cyber capabilities."¹⁰
This represents a fundamental shift from the failed Obama approach.
In 2015, the Obama Administration struck a deal with China that was supposed to prevent "cyber-enabled theft of intellectual property."¹¹
Within three years, it became clear that China had completely ignored the agreement.
"It is clear they are well beyond the bounds of the agreement today that was forged between our two countries," Rob Joyce, a cybersecurity advisor to the Trump Administration, said in 2018.¹²
Obama’s weakness only emboldened Beijing’s hackers.
The Stakes Couldn’t Be Higher
The arrest of Xu Zewei sends a clear message to Beijing: the days of consequence-free cyber warfare are over.
For too long, Chinese hackers operated with complete impunity, stealing American research that cost billions of dollars to develop.
They targeted our universities, our businesses, and our government agencies while American families suffered through a pandemic.
But President Trump’s FBI is now hunting down these cyber criminals wherever they try to hide.
The Chinese Communist Party can cry and complain all they want, but America is finally fighting back.
And Beijing’s arrogant response to getting caught only proves they’ve been getting away with cyber warfare for far too long.
¹ Steven Richards, "Fighting against Chinese cyber-espionage, FBI hunts down members of Chinese hacking networks," The Washington Times, July 10, 2025.
² Ibid.
³ Ibid.
⁴ Ibid.
⁵ Ibid.
⁶ Ibid.
⁷ Ibid.
⁸ Ibid.
⁹ Ibid.
¹⁰ Ibid.
¹¹ Ibid.
¹² Ibid.
