Chinese hackers are positioning themselves in America’s critical infrastructure IT networks for a potential clash with the United States, a top US cybersecurity official said on Friday.

Morgan Adamski, executive director of the US Cyber ​​Command, said the China-linked cyber operations are aimed at gaining leverage in the event of a major conflict with the United States.

Authorities have warned that hackers linked to China have compromised IT networks and have taken steps to launch disruptive attacks in the event of a conflict. Their activities include gaining access to key networks to enable potential disruptions such as manipulating heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems in server rooms, or disrupting critical energy and water controls, US officials said. said earlier this year.

Beijing routinely denies cyber operations targeting US institutions. The Chinese embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Adamski was speaking to researchers at the Cyberwarken security conference in Arlington, Virginia. This was stated by US Senator Mark Warner on Thursday The Washington Post The suspected China-linked hack of US telecommunications firms was the worst telecom hack in US history.

The FBI said recently that the cyber-espionage operation, dubbed “Salt Typhoon,” included stolen call records data from compromised top officials of both major U.S. presidential campaigns ahead of the Nov. 5 election. Includes telecommunications information related to communications and requests from US law enforcement agencies.

The FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency are providing technical assistance and information to potential targets, the bureau said.

Adamski said Friday that the U.S. government has “conducted globally coordinated activities, both offensively and defensively minded, that are laser-focused on degrading and disrupting PRC cyber operations around the world.” “

Public examples include exposing operations, sanctions, indictments, law enforcement actions and cybersecurity advisories with input from multiple countries, Adamski said.