Hearing spotlights Chinese cyber intrusions in Guam and flags risks from foreign-made drones

Witnesses at a House Natural Resources subcommittee hearing described cyber operations attributed to China that have targeted Pacific communications and infrastructure and raised alarms about the use of foreign-made drones by Interior agencies.

Chairman Hurd and members cited prior intrusions and asked experts about current trends. Dean Chang said Chinese-linked cyber groups continue to operate against U.S. and allied systems and described recent families of intrusion activity. Chang told the subcommittee that Chinese activity is not abating and highlighted campaigns that have targeted telecommunications infrastructure and institutional systems.

Representative John LaMalfa asked witnesses about Department of the Interior equipment that uses drones produced by Chinese companies that have drawn scrutiny by U.S. national security agencies. Chang warned that Chinese national security law and industrial policy increase the risks that data collected by PRC-made equipment can be accessed by Chinese authorities: "Chinese national security law has made very clear... all data must be stored in the PRC," he said in his testimony, and argued this raises risk where low-cost foreign drones are used without full vetting.

Dr. John Kennedy and others pressed for stronger protections after the committee discussed public reporting of campaigns named in the private sector as "Veil Typhoon" and related intrusions into island telecommunications systems. Chang noted that traces of these campaigns suggested attackers had targeted telecom providers and may have accessed sensitive operational and possibly intelligence-related data. Members urged the witnesses to provide written follow-ups; the record will remain open.